EastEnders fans are speculating that Ravi Gulati, played by Aaron Thiara, could be the mystery gunman in the show's flash-forward episode, following reports of his upcoming departure from Walford. The actor is set to leave the BBC soap after four years, and viewers have already begun connecting his exit to the dramatic events teased for New Year's Day 2027.
Ravi's Exit and the Flash-Forward Clues
The flash-forward, which aired in January, showed Max Branning's children, Oscar and Lauren, being taken hostage by a masked figure holding a gun. The identity of the gunman has remained a secret, but with Thiara's exit confirmed, fans are now theorizing that Ravi could be behind the attack. Social media users have voiced their suspicions, with one X user, GG, simply stating, 'Ravi [is] the gunman then.' Another user, sukeve_xo, wrote, 'This confirms my theory that Priya is the pregnant woman in Max's bed and Ravi is the gunman.' A third, Rebecca, added, 'I think Ravi is going to be the gunman and will either die or go to prison and that'll be how he leaves next year.'
The Motive: Max and Priya's Secret Affair
Ravi's potential motive lies in his complicated relationship with Priya Nandra-Hart, played by Sophie Khan Levy. After returning from a mental health facility, Ravi was determined to win Priya back, but discovered she was seeing a mystery man. That man is none other than her boss, Max Branning, who is set to marry Cindy Beale. If Ravi uncovers the truth, he might seek revenge by targeting Max's children on New Year's Day, forcing Max to choose between them.
Exit Timing and Production Details
A source told The Sun, which first reported the story, that Thiara will continue filming until the end of the year, making it plausible that his departure is tied to the January 1 episode. The flash-forward scene has been a central plot device, and Ravi's involvement would provide a dramatic conclusion to his character arc, which has included killing both his fathers and falling in love with Priya.
EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One, with episodes available to stream from 6am on BBC iPlayer. Viewers will have to keep watching to see if Ravi's exit aligns with the flash-forward events.
