Phaldut "Paul" Sharma is a Welsh actor and dancer. He is perhaps best known for his small role in the 2013 science fiction move Gravity, and is also known for playing Achmed in Gavin & Stacey and AJ Ahmed in EastEnders.
Early life
editSharma was born in the UK to Guyanese Hindu parents, whose ancestors came from Uttar Pradesh.[1][2][3]
Career
editTelevision and film
editSharma 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]
Stage
editSharma 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
edit- ^ https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/phaldut-sharma/bio/3000534508/
- ^ a b https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/lounge/phaldut-sharma-astronaut-shariff-gravity-george-clooney-sandra-bullock/articleshow/25653448.cms?
- ^ a b https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/raj-kapoors-song-was-perfect-for-gravity-says-phaldut-sharma-614648
- ^ Casualty semi-regulars
- ^ Meet the Magoons episode guide on Channel 4
- ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (1 June 2012). "'EastEnders' casts Masood's brother AJ". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 1 June 2012.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Raj Kapoor's song Mera joota hai Japani was perfect for Gravity: Phaldut Sharma, DNA India, 1 November 2013
- ^ "Home". igottabeme.net.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Colderick, Stephanie (14 September 2023). "BBC releases new pictures of Wales-filmed drama Men Up". WalesOnline. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
- ^ Rat Pack Confidential transfers to West End Archived 2011-06-15 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Boiling Frogs Review
- ^ Boiling Frogs Review in The Independent
