Phaldut Sharma

Phaldut "Paul" Sharma is a Welsh actor and dancer. He is perhaps best known for his small role in the 2013 science fiction movie Gravity, and is also known for playing Achmed in Gavin & Stacey and AJ Ahmed in EastEnders.

Early life

Sharma was born in the UK to Guyanese Hindu parents, whose ancestors came from Uttar Pradesh.[1][2][3]

Career

Television and film

Sharma played Vinnay Ramdas in Casualty and then Damon Lynch in 2011,[4] Rajiv in comedy-drama Roger Roger and Paul in Meet the Magoons.[5] He has also appeared in episodes of Life on Mars, Dalziel and Pascoe and the BBC daytime series Doctors. also appeared in one episode of Ultimate Force Series 4 Episode 3 "the dividing line".

Sharma was in the first episode of the UK comedy The Office, playing Sanj, and was Stacey Shipman's (Joanna Page) ex-fiancé, Achmed, in Gavin & Stacey. In 2009, Sharma appeared as Hindu nationalist Harish Dhillon in an episode of Spooks. In 2012, Sharma was cast in EastEnders as Masood Ahmed's (Nitin Ganatra) brother AJ, a regular character.[6] He left the soap opera in 2014.[7] He also appeared in episode six of Hunted.

In 2013, Sharma garnered notable attention from South Asian outlets for a small role in the 2013 science fiction move Gravity, where he chose to sing a short portion of the popular Hindi song Mera Joota Hai Japani.[8][3][2]

In 2015, Sharma released 'I Gotta Be Me' - a ten-part web comedy in which he plays Paul Shah - a semi-autobiographical character based on his experience as a Sammy Davis Junior tribute act.[9] He also appeared as Leigh in episodes four and five of Cucumber. In 2019, he appeared as Tom, the father of Sophie who befriends the titular character in season 1 of Hanna.

In 2021, Sharma appeared as DCI Ram Sidhu in the fourth series of ITV drama Unforgotten.[10] In 2023 he filmed the BBC television feature Men Up, about the first clinical trials for the drug Viagra that took place in Swansea in 1994.[11] He plays Peetham "Pete" Shah.[12]

In early 2025 he appeared in the sixth series of Unforgotten, reprising the role of Ram Sidhu.

Stage

Sharma played Sammy Davis Jr in the West End production of Rat Pack Confidential in 2003.[13]

From September to October 2010, he appeared in Factory Theatre Company's Boiling Frogs at Southwark Playhouse, London.[14][15]

References

  1. ^ "Phaldut Sharma". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
  2. ^ a b Vidyasagar, Prashanth (12 November 2013). "The 'other' guy in space". Bangalore Mirror. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
  3. ^ a b "Raj Kapoor's song was perfect for Gravity, says Phaldut Sharma". www.ndtv.com. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
  4. ^ "holby.tv | Casualty | Paul Sharma". www.holby.tv. Archived from the original on 11 July 2006. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
  5. ^ "Meet the Magoons - Episode Guide - All 4". www.channel4.com. Archived from the original on 17 August 2016. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
  6. ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (1 June 2012). "'EastEnders' casts Masood's brother AJ". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 1 June 2012.
  7. ^ Klompus, Jack (24 September 2013). "'EastEnders' axes four stars: AJ, Poppy, Carl and Kirsty to leave soap". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
  8. ^ Team, DNA Web. "Raj Kapoor's song 'Mera joota hai Japani' was perfect for 'Gravity': Phaldut Sharma". DNA India. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
  9. ^ "Home". igottabeme.net.
  10. ^ Cripps, Charlotte (3 March 2021). "Unforgotten, series 4 episode 2 recap: Could Cassie and Sunny's new case involve corrupt coppers?". The Independent. Archived from the original on 26 May 2022. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  11. ^ Ritman, Alex (1 March 2023). "Viagra Trial Drama 'Men Up' Coming to BBC From Russell T. Davies, 'Industry' Writer, 'It's a Sin' Producer". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  12. ^ Colderick, Stephanie (14 September 2023). "BBC releases new pictures of Wales-filmed drama Men Up". WalesOnline. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  13. ^ "Rival Rat Pack Reopens West End Whitehall, 18 Sep - - News - Whatsonstage.com". www.whatsonstage.com. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011.
  14. ^ "Boiling Frogs @ Southwark Playhouse, London | theatre reviews | musicOMH". musicOMH. Archived from the original on 3 July 2013. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
  15. ^ "Boiling Frogs, Southwark Playhouse, London". The Independent. Archived from the original on 27 November 2024. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
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