EastEnders actor Nitin Ganatra has open up about the shocking racism he experienced as a child – and still does, even to this day.
In an emotional interview on Loose Women on Thursday (2 August), the soap star revealed that the physical and verbal abuse led to him developing an eating disorder.
Read more: Ex-EastEnders star John Partridge on his secret drink and drugs battle
Appearing on the panel opposite guests Kelly Brook and Denise Van Outen, Nitin shocked audiences with his vivid account of his childhood troubles.
The 51-year-old, who plays popular character Masood Ahmed in the BBC soap, explained how food became a refuge from the cruelties of everyday life.
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He said: “We lived in a cornershop. My mum was being spat at, my dad was being beaten up. I was being beaten up on a daily basis by skinheads… it was normal.”
Admitting that he turned to food as an escape, Kenyan-born Nitin admitted you develop an eating disorder “because you’re escaping something”.
Saying he was bullied for his race by classmates AND teachers at school, he continued: “Comfort eating was my thing. I was very big; I was probably obese by the time I was about 12.”
“So then I went the other way when I went to University and I lost a lot of weight,” he explained. “I studied as an actor in Italy and when I got to Italy they said, ‘We’ve never seen anyone as skinny as you, you need to eat’.
“I think if you’ve been bullied for your weight and your colour, you find ways of coping, and food was a way.”
Raised in Coventry, Nitin described himself as a “shy little fat kid” who luckily found acting through a kindly teacher.
Thank you @GanatraNitin for talking so honesty about your experience of racism and experiencing an eating disorder. You are an incredible man. 💙 pic.twitter.com/1o9iBPciio
— Loose Women (@loosewomen) August 2, 2018
The soap star appeared on the panel show to promote his new play, End of the Pier, starting soon at the Park Theatre in London’s Finsbury Park.
He stars alongside Les Dennis and Inbetweeners actor Blake Harrison, and is doing it at the same time as filming EastEnders.
He joined the BBC soap in 2007. He’s also starred in Charlie And The Chocolate Factory opposite Johnny Depp in 2005.
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