EastEnders star Aaron Thiara has teased viewers will see a different side to Ravi Gulati in his affair with Denise Fox.
Denise and Ravi reignited their secret romance at Christmas. On New Year’s Day, Ravi pushed his dad Nish Panesar off a balcony with the dramatic events bringing Denise and Ravi closer together.
Discussing the pair’s future, Thiara said Ravi will show his vulnerability as he struggles keeping their love story hidden, particularly seeing Denise with her family at Raymond’s birthday party.
“Ravi and Denise know the situation is complicated and that they perhaps shouldn’t be doing this, but these feelings they had before have been relit,” Thiara explained.
“What happened last time escalated in a way that Ravi didn’t really want to happen. This time, it’s different. I think Ravi is a bit more mature, and perhaps he’s slightly less reckless, so he feels like he’s got a clean slate with Denise.”
Thiara said Ravi wouldn’t want to go “sneaking about” but respects Denise’s decision not to tell her family for the time being, particularly not to hurt her daughter Chelsea, who previously dated Ravi.
“Ravi respects Denise’s wishes and is happy to go at her pace. She needs to feel comfortable about when the other members of the family find out about them, especially Chelsea,” he said.
“Knowing how Chelsea felt about Ravi when they were together, this will cause absolute carnage and it’ll be Denise’s relationship with her daughter that’s on the line.”
However, he can’t suppress a pang of jealousy when he spots Denise hugging her ex Jack Branning.
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
“Ravi is really stung by seeing them and it’s bringing up old feelings from his past about being second best or pushed aside,” Thiara said.
“That’s a trigger for Ravi, not just in his romantic relationships but with everyone in his life,” he continued. “At this point, he’s just realised how much he feels for Denise, and the audience will see a different type of vulnerability in Ravi.”
Meanwhile, Ravi is forced to admit to his romance with Denise when his teenage son Nugget walks in on him and Denise kissing.
“It’s the worst thing that could have happened because Ravi and Denise want the decision of when to tell people about their relationship to be in their hands, nobody else’s,” the actor said.
“They want the chance to be together and tell people about that in their own way. So, for Nugget, Ravi’s child, to see that and having to explain that whole situation to him makes it feel like the world is coming crashing down on them.”
The soap manages to turn this hurdle into a poignant father-son moment when Ravi chooses to level with Nugget.
“He has to talk to Nugget like an adult and not speak down to him,” Thiara said.
“Ravi explains to his son that one day he’ll meet someone, and it could be tricky, and that’s the situation that Ravi is in and he’s trying to find a way through it.
“There are some beautiful scenes between them. It’s new for Ravi in his journey as a father to communicate and relate to his son in this way.”
While Chelsea may not be as understanding when Denise finally comes clean, there’s still time for the soap to turn things around.
As part of EastEnders’ 40th anniversary celebrations, fans will be called to decide whether Denise ends up with Ravi or Jack in an interactive episode.
