Ray Panthaki

Ray Panthaki (; (born 20 January 1979) is a British actor, writer, director, and producer. On television, he is known for his roles in the BBC series EastEnders (2003–2005) and Blessed, the ITV series Marcella (2016–2020), the Sky Atlantic series Gangs of London and the Netflix series Away (both 2020). For his performance in the film Boiling Point (2021), he received a British Independent Film Award nomination. His other films include Convenience (2013).

He was elected to the BAFTA Film Committee in 2024.

Early life Panthaki was born in London to second-generation Indian parents. His parents belong to India's Parsi minority community.

Career Panthaki appeared in the 1999 anthology Tube Tales and made his feature film debut as Hassan B in Sacha Baron Cohen's 2002 comedy Ali G Indahouse. This was followed by roles in the films 28 Days Later, Provoked and the 2006 film Kidulthood which he also produced.

In 2006, Panthaki was nominated for Best Supporting Actor in a Play at the TMA Theatre Awards for his role in Gladiator Games. Later that year, he set up the London-based production company Urban Way. Panthaki made his West End theatrical debut in July 2008 in the play In My Name at the Trafalgar Studios. He has performed twice at the Royal Court Theatre in London in Where Do We Live by Christopher Shinn and The Westbridge by Rachel De-Lehay. He went on to play a leading role in Tanika Gupta's The Empress for the Royal Shakespeare Company directed by Emma Rice.

He starred in the films It's a Wonderful Afterlife (2010) and Interview with a Hitman (2012). In 2013, Panthaki produced and starred in the comedy film Convenience starring alongside Vicky McClure and Adeel Akhtar. The film's director Keri Collins won Best Breakthrough at the 2014 BAFTA Cymru for his work on the film.

In 2014, he was announced as one of 18 BAFTA Breakthrough Brits a celebration of Britain's stars of tomorrow alongside fellow actors Stacy Martin, Katie Leung and Callum Turner. In 2016, Panthaki was cast as DCI Rav Sangha in Hans Rosenfeldt's Nordic noir detective series Marcella.

In 2017, it was announced that Panthaki had signed on to Wash Westmoreland's Colette, a biopic about the French novelist Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette, to play real-life French playwright Pierre Veber. Panthaki attended the world premiere at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival alongside co-stars Keira Knightley and Dominic West, where the film received positive reviews. The following year, he portrayed journalist Kamal Ahmed in the film Official Secrets.

In 2020, Panthaki appeared in the Netflix series Away, alongside Hilary Swank, as Group Captain Ram Arya, second in command on a mission to Mars.

At the British Independent Film Awards 2021, Panthaki was nominated for the BIFA for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Freeman in Boiling Point alongside Stephen Graham.

Panthaki is set to direct In Starland.

Filmography +Key Denotes works that have not yet been released

Film

Television Year Title Role Notes 1998 The Bill Charlie Episode: "Taking Sides" 2000 Losing It Ray Television film 2001 The Armando Iannucci Shows Episode: "Communication" My Family Gary Episode: "Trust Never Sleeps" 2002 Blood Strangers Zafar Wahid Television film Spooks Chalak Ahmed Episode: "One Last Dance"; uncredited 2003 Rehab Naz Television film Doctors Duncan Marks Episode: "Donations" 2003–2005 EastEnders Ronny 158 episodes 2005 Blessed Lance 8 episodes 2006 Strictly Confidential Ali Series 1 Episode 3 2013 Life of Crime DS Nabeel Kothari Episode: "1997" 2014 DCI Banks Jeff Kitson Episodes: "Bad Boy Parts 1 & 2" The Wrong Mans Khalil 2 episodes 2015 Crackanory Nasim 1 episode 2016–2020 Marcella DI/DCI Rav Sangha 24 episodes 2020 Gangs of London Jevan Kapadia 8 episodes Away Ram Arya 10 episodes 2022 The Serpent Queen Charles, Cardinal of Lorraine 13 episodes 2023 Boiling Point Freeman

Video games Year Title Role Notes 2020 Dreams Dreams architect