We're all super excited for Danny Boyle's new film Yesterday, which is set in a world where The Beatles don't actually exist (hard to "imagine," we know). If you watched the trailer and thought you recognised the film's male lead but weren't quite able to place him, you're not alone. Stepping into the Fab Four's shoes is Himesh Patel, who played popular Eastenders geek Tamwar Masood for almost a decade. The Masoods were a really popular part of the London-based BBC soap for years, and Tamwar was originally little more than comic relief, but the longer Himesh was part of the show, the better his storylines got. He left the show in 2016 to pursue other roles, and judging by his latest job, things are definitely looking promising for this rising star. He acts, he sings, he's musical, and he's very, very funny. Keep reading to get to know him better before he becomes a global superstar.
Who Is Himesh Patel?
Before He Stars in Yesterday, Here's Everything You Need to Know About Himesh Patel Today
Himesh actually met Eastenders actor Nitin Ganatra — who played his father, Masood, on the show — long before his audition, after his sister asked for his autograph. It seems they were destined to work together!
Look how young Himesh is in this video! His parents encouraged him to join a youth theatre group, and he was still at school when he first learned of the role of Tamwar. He had to get his audition pushed back because of a science exam. "On the penultimate day of my GCSEs I got a call about the Eastenders audition. I did my last exam and dad drove me down to Borehamwood," he said.
Himesh is really proud of the work Eastenders did with tricky storylines. In an interview, he said: "I was especially proud to be involved with the gay Muslim storyline. It was a very brave move. They tackled it so well. It was really well crafted."
Himesh loves the opportunity to try something new on set. "There's no room for improvisation on Eastenders. You don't have time — there's 20 scenes to do in a day, so you've got to keep moving." He told Digital Spy when talking about his Channel 4 show Damned that he really enjoys having the opportunity to "do a 'fun take' where you can just throw things at each other and see what happens."
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Acting isn't Himesh's only passion; he's also very into writing and even cowrote an episode of Eastenders E20 with his costar Charlie Hawkins. "I haven't written a complete script as of yet, because I don't want to rush it. I have lots of ideas and dreams. I'm sure one day I'll write and act in my own film."
After his A levels, Himesh had planned to go to University and was considering studying creative writing. "I was looking at English or creative writing courses. And then I thought, 'Well, I've got a decent job; [let's] just see where this takes me.'" Luckily for our TV schedules, he decided to stick at it!
We know crying is part of an actor's job, especially in a show like Eastenders, but Himesh has definitely got it down to a fine art. Take a look at this hilarious video, where he explains his process. Who knew a cup of tea could be so emotional?!
Himesh continued his A levels while he was on the show, telling What's on TV, "I'm a geek, like Tamwar!," although he went on to say he doesn't really like the term "geek": "I say 'geek', but I'm not a big fan of the term — although as the national consensus goes, I probably am one. I love films and I love technology, and I used to wear big glasses. Now, I wear contact lenses . . . but you can't take the geek out of the person!"
Himesh played the character of geeky Tamwar Masood for almost 10 years and even said he felt guilty when he decided to quit the show, leaving fellow actor Nitin Ganatra as the only member of the popular Masood family left on the show. "I did feel a bit guilty when I told Nitin I was going, as it would leave him on his own in terms of the family," he said to Metro. "I'll try and keep up with Eastenders, though, and check in on Masood from time to time." The pair have a really strong relationship, which you can see in this video clip.
He doesn't just act and write; he's musical, too. Here he is performing in a talent contest with some amazing guitar moves.
We really love a BBC adaptation, and we have no doubt they're going to do wonders with Eleanor Catton's Booker Prize winner The Luminaries. Himesh stars alongside Eva Green, and filming has started in New Zealand. You'll have to be patient, though; it'll be a little while before it airs on our screens.
The Masood family is really popular with Eastenders viewers, but it's unlikely Himesh will make the return to Albert Square anytime soon. He told Digital Spy, "For now, distance is definitely the right thing, I think," but never say never: "I've been learning a lot outside of that world and exploring what's out there and I'm finding that really exciting at the moment. So for the moment, no, but you never say never with these things, because you just don't know where you'll be five years down the line."