Raji James

Infobox actor


imagesize = 150px
name = Raji James
othername =
birthname = Rajesh Jhanji
birthdate = birth date and age|1970|2|24
birthplace = Havant, England
occupation = Film & TV Actor, Podcast Co-Host, Club Night Promotor.
yearsactive = 1988 - (Present)
Marital Status = Separated
children = Shannon (b. 1994) and Riley (b. 2002)
influences = Tom Cruise, Dustin Hoffman, Anthony Hopkins, Edward Norton
website = http://www.rajijames.com

Raji James was born Rajesh Jhanji on 24 February 1970 in Havant, England, and was brought up in nearby Paulsgrove. He is a British Indian actor, club night promotor and podcast co-host, best known for playing Ash Ferreira in "EastEnders" and Abdul Khan in the 1999 British Film "East is East". As of 2007 he participates in The Ray Peacock Podcast.

Career

Television

He has featured as a regular character, DS Vik Singh, in ITV's "The Bill" (2000-02). He has also had parts in "Crocodile Shoes", "Waking the Dead", and in the 2006 "Doctor Who" episodes "Army of Ghosts" and "Doomsday". He went on to appear as Prince Malik in the 2006 BBC adaptation of "Robin Hood" (episode 10 - "Peace? Off!"), and as Dr Joe Mangeshkar in "Kick" (2007). [ [http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/whatson/kick-sbs-8pm/2007/06/05/1181089217431.html?page=2 Kick. SBS 8pm] ]

James is best known for playing the role of Ash Ferreira in the BBC soap opera "EastEnders". James' character first appeared on-screen in 2003 as part of a new Indian family, the show's first new Asian family for 10 years. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/entertainment/tv_and_radio/2829985.stm New EastEnders family announced] ] However, the Ferreiras were not received well by viewers or critics, and in 2005 executive producer Kathleen Hutchison axed the entire family. [ [http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2004/oct/14/broadcasting.bbc1 Ferreiras kicked out of EastEnders] ] James has since blamed "EastEnders"' scriptwriters' dull plots for the Ferreira family's lack of success. [ [http://www.mirror.co.uk/archive/tm_method=full&objectid=14757683&siteid=89520-name_page.html RAJI: DULL PLOTS GOT US AXED] ]

Film

His film roles include
*"Provoked" (2007) - Anil
*"Nina’s Heavenly Delights" (2006) - Sanjay
*"Brief Encounters" (2005) - Doctor
*"East Is East" (1999) - Abdul Khan

Podcasts

In 2007, James began participating in "The Ray Peacock Podcast" for iTunes and the UK Comedy Website, chortle.co.uk, alongside the comedians, Ray Peacock and Ed Gamble. James is the object of many jokes in the series, mostly about his personal life and how he "ruined Eastenders".

Personal life

Raji James has a sister, and a brother. When he was two, his father kidnapped Raji and his siblings from their home in Slough, Berks. [ [http://www.mirror.co.uk/archive/2004/01/21/ash-s-dad-war-is-for-real-89520-13839649/ ASH'S DAD WAR IS FOR REAL] ] He took them to India until his mother, convinced him to return to England where custody was legally settled.

His early schooling was in Portsmouth and, whilst there, his Drama Tutor suggested he apply for a place at a drama college, although up until then, Raji had seriously considered joining the RAF as he was a sergeant in the cadet corps at school. He had the nickname "Sergeant Onion".

In 1988, he enrolled in the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and graduated with a Graduate Diploma (Degree Equivalent) in 1991. While a student, he found time to run the cellar bar at The Woodville Hotel in Woodville Road, Cathays. He is currently the Actor in Residence at Portsmouth College's Media Studies and Performing Arts Department.

Since then, Raji has been involved in a number of TV, film and theatre work as well as fitting in some time as a cab driver, foreman on a building site, sandwich delivery man, barman and other non-acting jobs. Raji has two children.

ee also

* Ray Peacock
* The Ray Peacock Podcast
* List of The Ray Peacock Podcast Episodes

References

External links

*imdb name|0416849
* [http://www.chortle.co.uk/raypeacock/ The Ray Peacock Podcast featuring Raji James]
* [http://www.rajijames.com/ Fan website for Raji James]