EastEnders is preparing to broadcast a harrowing mental health storyline centred on Ravi Gulati, with actor Aaron Thiara urging audiences to look beyond his character's troubled history.
The BBC soap will depict Ravi's psychological state deteriorating entirely over the coming weeks as he grapples with the aftermath of attacking his own son whilst under the influence of drugs.
Mr Thiara has appealed directly to viewers who may find it difficult to empathise with the character. "In these moments, I hope the audience can simply see a human being in crisis," he said.
"Some may hold his history against him, but I hope people will see, not the villain, not the history, but the person underneath it all."
The character is currently going through a mental health crisis
|BBC
The storyline has been developed in collaboration with The Samaritans.
Ravi's mental health has been in decline since January, with the character overwhelmed by guilt following the incident with his son Nugget.
However, some viewers have found it challenging to muster sympathy for the character given recent events on the show. Just months ago, Ravi was coercing Harry Mitchell and the vulnerable Kojo Asare into working for his drugs operation.
That particular storyline culminated in Harry being wrongfully imprisoned and subsequently developing a drug addiction.
The couple have been struggling to hold their family together
|BBC
The character's criminal behaviour has left a portion of the audience reluctant to engage with his current struggles.
Despite this, Mr Thiara remains hopeful that fans will be able to separate Ravi's past actions from his present crisis, particularly given the sensitive nature of the mental health themes being explored.
The storyline will see Ravi experiencing night terrors that have significantly affected his wellbeing. Because he remains unaware of what occurs during sleep, these episodes prove frightening both for him and those close to him.
Mr Thiara explained that his character feels powerless and convinced he cannot protect his family.
"That's what makes it so heartbreaking," the actor said.
"He has spiralled so far that he can no longer recognise how unwell he is."
The star has issued a plea to the soaps fans
|BBC
Adding to Ravi's distress is the bullying his son Nugget faces from schoolmates following an epileptic fit.
Eventually, Priya intervenes and accompanies Ravi to hospital for assessment, concerned about his deteriorating state and determined to ensure he receives proper support.
As the character reaches crisis point, he will contemplate taking his own life.
Lorna Fraser, Head of Media Advisory Service at Samaritans, outlined the charity's involvement in shaping the narrative.
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"Storylines responsibly reflecting experiences of mental health and suicide can help tackle stigma and encourage viewers who might be struggling to talk about how they are feeling," she said.
"We're proud to have supported EastEnders with covering Ravi's self-harm and mental health crisis sensitively and grateful for their efforts in making this as safe as possible."
Executive producer Ben Wadey stated the programme aimed to handle Ravi's journey with appropriate care and sensitivity.
The character has been struggling since an incident with his son
|BBC
Thiara described filming alongside his onscreen family, including Juhaim Rasul Choudhury, Sophie Levy and Aaliyah James, as a special experience.
He acknowledged the cast understood their responsibility in portraying a story that would resonate personally with many viewers.
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