Major EastEnders character Ravi Gulati (Aaron Thiara) stages an unexpected return next week, leaving Priya Nandra-Hart (Sophie Khan Levy) absolutely floored. The last time viewers saw Ravi, he forbade Priya from visiting him again in the mental health unit following an attempt to take his own life, breaking up with her and breaking her heart in the process.
Ravi's Descent into Darkness
Desperation saw Ravi make the decision to re-enter the criminal world last year, when he sought out Nicola Mitchell (Laura Doddington) for a contact to help him re-establish himself in the drug game. Things quickly spiralled and Ravi was forced to make even more extreme decisions to stay afloat. He cuckooed vulnerable Kojo Asare (Dayo Koleosho), imprisoned Harry Mitchell (Elijah Holloway), and left him at the mercy of his lieutenant, Tobias ‘Okie’ Okyere (Aayan Ibikunle Shoderu), leading directly to Okie’s death and the imprisonment of Teddy Mitchell (Roland Manookian).
Ravi later turned informant for the police when Harry reported his role in the racket, with the worry that his grassing would lead to Priya and his kids, Avani Nandra-Hart (Aaliyah James) and Nugget Gulati (Juhaim Rasul Choudhury), being harmed. His removal from the family home by Suki and Eve Panesar-Unwin (Balvinder Sopal and Heather Peace), who were concerned that a known drug dealer would scupper their adoption hopes, sent him into hiding following a violent beating from his boss.
A Terrifying Revenge
When he returned, he found himself hunted by the Mitchell duo of Harry and Laura, who wrought a terrifying revenge. After they drugged his drink, Ravi suffered terrifying hallucinations of Nish Panesar (Navin Chowdhry) and savagely beat his son Nugget, convinced he was his evil dad. When he awoke and learned Nugget had been rushed to hospital, his heart broke further as Nugget was diagnosed with epilepsy as a direct result of the attack.
When Priya learned Ravi was behind the attack, she made him swear to keep quiet, but he quickly began self-harming. Priya was devastated to discover the self-inflicted wounds on his body after a vicious beating from Mark Fowler Jr (Stephen Aaron-Sipple), one Ravi instigated as self-punishment. While Priya took him to the doctors, he was told it would be a wait before he could access talking therapies, and he continued to worsen.
Breaking Point
Reacting to a fallout between Nugget and Will Mitchell (Fred Phillips), Suki learned of his struggle and offered to finance treatment, but Ravi had reached breaking point. After another episode of self-harm required a hospital visit, a confrontation led to Ravi declaring a ‘reset day’ for the family, though it became clear he had no intention of releasing them. Priya suggested they flee Albert Square, but when they got hold of a car, Ravi realised she was taking him to hospital. As he exploded and Nugget suffered a seizure, the family ended up in a collision with Max Branning (Jake Wood) and Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins).
Ravi fled the scene, ascending the bridge over Albert Square, where his family found him. Determined to end his life, it took the entire family to talk him down, and he was apprehended by medical professionals and sectioned. When Priya visited him, he ended things and demanded she never visit again.
Priya's Struggle
Priya has tried her hardest to hold things together for the family since, working at the car lot to support them while dealing with the emotional fallout. Next week, she misses a letter from him and when she returns home to find him waiting for her, she’s absolutely floored. In a much better mental state, Ravi apologises for the way he treated her following his sectioning, and Priya is utterly elated at the prospect of the two working things out and getting their family back on track.
Will they get their happily ever after?
