Kulvinder Ghir is a British actor, comedian and writer. He is best known as one of the cast members in the sketch show Goodness Gracious Me (1998–2015). He is also known for playing Aslam in the Yorkshire-based film Rita, Sue and Bob Too! (1987), and Poly Verisof in Foundation.

Kulvinder Ghir
Born
NationalityBritish
Occupation(s)Actor, comedian, writer
Years active1980–present
SpouseBlandine Martin
Children2

Early life

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Ghir was born in Nairobi, Kenya to Indian Punjabi parents of Sikh heritage.[1] Ghir grew up in the Chapeltown suburb of Leeds, England.[2] Ghir first began performing on stage at 13, going on to play comedy clubs between 15 and 17,[3] thereafter enrolling in a London drama school.[4]

Career

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Ghir made his first television appearance as a teenager in 1981 on the Yorkshire Television programme The Extraordinary People Show. At the time, he was looking at going into animation, and was one of three teenagers chosen to question Gerry Anderson about his techniques, and for general advice.

His next TV appearance was in 1985, in the recurring role of Davy Malik in the BBC drama Howards' Way.[5] His breakthrough role came in 1987,[2] in the controversial British film Rita, Sue and Bob Too!. Since then, he has worked extensively in film, television and theatre.

He is best known as being one of four regular cast members in the BBC sketch comedy Goodness Gracious Me, in both its radio and TV incarnation. Amongst the many characters Ghir played were "Chunky Lafunga", a sexy Bollywood "hero", the superhero Bhangra Man, and as one half of the "Bhangramuffins" duo (alongside series co-writer Sanjeev Bhaskar).

He is also known for providing the voice of Ajay Bains in Postman Pat.

His play Dusky Warriors premiered at the Theatre Royal, Stratford, London, in 1995.

He also lent his voice to a few animated series aside from Postman Pat, including Chop Socky Chooks and the 2015 reboot of Bob the Builder.

In 2009, he was in the film 31 North 62 East as Tariq.

From September 2009 to May 2011, Ghir was part of the cast of BBC Three comedy series Lunch Monkeys, playing Mohammed Khan, father of Abdullah Afzal's character.[6] The show lasted two series.

In 2013, he appeared as one of the feuding brothers in the UK film, Jadoo.[7] He also appeared in the final episode of British sitcom Big School, as Mr. Rupesh the school bus driver.[8] He also hosted the 2013 Brit Asia TV Music Awards.[9] Since 2013, he has played Cyril in Still Open All Hours.

In 2019, he played the protagonist's father in Blinded by the Light.

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1987 Rita, Sue and Bob Too Aslam
1993 It's Your Choice: Interviewee Preparation Interviewee #3 Short film; Direct-to-video
Meetings Bloody Meetings Short film
1995 Brothers in Trouble Agent
2002 Bend It Like Beckham Teetu
Tomorrow La Scala! Rajiv
2003 Ice Cream Dream Dad Short film
2004 Lighthouse Hill Raymonburr
Dead Cool Doctor
2006 Halal Harry Ghoni
Nina's Heavenly Delights TV Presenter
Van Wilder: The Rise of Taj Taj's Father
2007 Send in the Clowns Dr. Homayon Short film
2008 Ealing Comedy Alfie Singh
A Distant Mirage Katar Singh
2009 31 North 62 East Tariq Malim
Peter Kay's Animated All-Star Band Ajay (voice) Short film; direct-to-video
King Jeff Mr. Zaheer Short film
2010 The Arbor Rafee Documentary film
2011 Up There Ali
Mumbai Charlie The Doctor Short film
2019 The Queen's Corgi Sanjay (voice) UK version
Blinded by the Light Malik

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1981 The Extraordinary People Show Self/Participant Questioned Gerry Anderson about his techniques
1985 Tucker's Luck Sumil Episodes: "Bookends/Vanished" and "Phased Out & Washed Up"
1985–1986 Howards' Way Davy Malik 18 episodes
1988 Screen Two Sunil Episode: "Lucky Sunil"
1990 Casualty Jeevan Episode: "Remembrance"
1991 Waterfront Beat PC Ashir Malek 4 episodes
G.B.H. Ravi Television miniseries
Episodes: "Message Received" and "Over and Out"
Crimewatch File Idris Ali Episode: "A Party to Murder"
1992 Northern Crescent Television movie
Crime Story Nizam Hosein Episode: "Gone Too Far: The Mystery of Mrs. Muriel McKay"
1998–2015 Goodness Gracious Me Various roles 21 episodes
2000 At Home with the Braithwaites Manjit Mathura 2 episodes
2000 The Strangerers Keith Episode: "Angels"
2000–2002 Holby City Anil Banerjee 10 episodes
2004–2017 Postman Pat Multiple characters 158 episodes
2007–2008 Chop Socky Chooks Additional Voices 17 episodes
2008–2011 Lunch Monkeys Mohammed Khan 3 episodes
2011 Psychoville Mr. Kakkar Episode: "Hancock"
Comedy Lab Latte aka The Daddy Episode: "Kabadasses"
2013–2019 Still Open All Hours Cyril Series Regular
2015–2017 Bob the Builder Anish Bose (voice) 6 episodes; UK and US versions
2018–2020 Thomas & Friends Various Indian Voices (voice) UK and US versions
2019 Delicious Mohan Episode: "Do What Feels Right"
Beecham House Mool Chand 6 episodes
Lala's Ladiez Lala Unknown episodes
2020 Black Narcissus General Toda Rai 2 episodes
Hilda Additional voices (voice) 13 episodes
2023 Foundation Poly Verisof 8 episodes
TBA Virdee Ranjit Virdee Upcoming six-part thriller[10]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Emb Hashmi (11 December 2012). "Kulvinder Ghir on drug abuse, life and films". Asian World. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
  2. ^ a b "Kulvinder Ghir: From Rita, Sue to the rivalry of Jadoo". Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  3. ^ "Beds, Herts and Bucks Theatre - Midnight's Children - Interview with Kulvinder Ghir". BBC. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  4. ^ "Kulvinder Ghir: from Goodness Gracious... to Shakespeare..." What's On. August 2012. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
  5. ^ "BFI Screenonline: Ghir, Kulvinder Biography". Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  6. ^ "Press Office - Lunch Monkeys starts shooting second series". BBC. Retrieved 18 August 2011.
  7. ^ "Jadoo, review". The Telegraph. London. 5 September 2013.
  8. ^ "Episode 6, Series 1, Big School - BBC One". BBC. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  9. ^ Farooq, Aisha (14 October 2013). "Brit Asia Music Awards 2013 Winners". DESIblitz. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  10. ^ "BBC announces casting for new crime thriller Virdee". bbc.co.uk/mediacentre. 29 February 2024. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
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