Former EastEnders star Nitin Ganatra, who portrayed Masood Ahmed on the show from 2007 to 2019, recently shared a heartfelt account of his struggle with depression and the healing journey that reconnected him with his passion for art. The COVID-19 lockdown period was especially challenging for Ganatra’s mental health, bringing up painful memories of childhood experiences with racism and bullying. As a young boy, he had used drawing and painting as a way to cope with these hardships. During lockdown, he returned to art, finding it just as therapeutic as it had been years ago.

Ganatra described his return to painting as a rediscovery of his younger self, an experience he likened to “falling in love” with the person he used to be. Sharing some of his artwork on social media, he found encouragement from the positive reactions, which boosted his confidence and inspired him to continue. Reflecting on his life, Ganatra revealed that he once aspired to be an artist but was discouraged as a teenager when an art dealer dismissed his potential. This harsh criticism led him to pursue acting instead, a path that ultimately led him to EastEnders.

When asked about a possible return to EastEnders, Ganatra said he hasn’t been approached about it but remains open to the idea. Although he hasn’t received “that phone call yet,” he humorously added that “never say never,” leaving the door open for a potential comeback to the iconic British soap.