Here come THEGIRLS!
PRIYA DAVDRA AND RUKKU NAHAR DISCUSS THE AHMED SISTERS’ EXPLOSIVE ARRIVAL ON ALBERT SQUARE…
Walford is given a fresh injection of fun this week, as Mariam and Arshad’s granddaughters Iqra and Habiba arrive in search of their relatives, and we soon learn that trouble is never far behind them! Luckily, star Priya Davdra – who plays the elder of the two girls, Iqra – is far better behaved than her alter ego…
Welcome, Priya! How does it feel to be in Eastenders?
It feels amazing! Eastenders is a show that I watched with my family while I was growing up, so it feels absolutely surreal.
Tell us a bit about Iqra…
She’s an intriguing character in the sense that she can be very confident and sarcastic. She is very passionate about what she thinks is right, so she is always ready to defend herself. She loves her sister, and despite the fact that Habiba gets into loads of trouble, Iqra has her back – even if she doesn’t agree with what Habiba has done! I just can’t wait for the audience to see her in action.
What brings Iqra and Habiba to Walford?
They are there for a reason, and end up spinning their Uncle Masood a few stories so that they can stay and look after the restaurant [while he plans to attend his son Tamwar’s wedding to Nancy in Australia]. I don’t want to give too much away, but Iqra and Habiba have a goal in mind, and they will do anything to get what they want.
Are they going to make any enemies on the Square?
I think it’s safe to say that yes, they are! But they’ll also make some very good friends as well.
Have you had the chance to work with any of your Walford idols that you’ve watched over the years?
I’ve actually had a few scenes with Jessie Wallace, and I loved watching Kat back in the day. Phil is one of my favourite characters, too – although I’ve not filmed any scenes with Steve Mcfadden yet.
Can you give us a little tease about what we can expect Iqra and Habiba to be getting up to in the coming weeks?
Expect full-on drama, trouble and a lot of fun. They are both very strong women, and they know how to get what they want. It’s going to be a very interesting journey!
Rukku Nahar is no stranger to soapland. Prior to landing the role of Habiba, the actress played Hollyoaks’ Asha
Kaur – who copped off with Hunter Mcqueen, the fella of her murdered sister Neeta! So, Rukku is prepared for the drama that comes with appearing in one of Britain’s best-loved TV shows…
Hello again, Rukku! You’ve appeared in a soap before – but like Priya, did it still feel surreal joining Eastenders?
Absolutely – it’s so much smaller than it looks on TV! It looks so real and it feels like an actual street, even though you know that it’s just a set.
What can you tell us about your character, Habiba?
She is me – times 10! Habiba is such a ball of energy, but she can be naive and is also really impulsive. She’s very mouthy, too! I’d say that she’s a bit of a troublemaker, although not intentionally. I feel as if Habiba causes trouble without knowing she’s doing so!
When Iqra and Habiba arrive on the Square they set their sights on Walford East, but can they be trusted to look after the restaurant in Masood’s absence?
They’re very inexperienced
[laughs]! It’ll be really funny to watch them try, even more so because they think they know what they’re doing – when in fact they’re just winging it. It won’t take long before people notice their lack of experience!
How do you and Priya get on off screen?
We get on so well. I feel as if I’ve known her for ages! I love the way the sisters come in – they’re just full of energy, and I reckon they will bring a lot of fun and excitement to the Square.
Priya’s named her all-time Walford favourites – so tell us, who are yours?
I’ll have to say Mick [played by Danny Dyer]. I also love Tracey [the barmaid], although I haven’t yet had a scene with Jane Slaughter, who plays her. I want to have a scene where I go into the Vic and say, “Trace, can I have one on the house?”
I LOVE HOW THE SISTERS COME IN – THEY’RE FULL OF ENERGY RUKKU