Sources indicate that Aaron Thiara is preparing to depart from the long-running BBC soap opera after four years with the production.
The performer, aged 33, has portrayed the character Ravi Gulati since 2022 and rapidly became integral to numerous pivotal narratives within the programme.
Following several years with the serial, he now appears ready to pursue fresh ventures.
An insider told The Sun that Thiara had been central to some of the show’s most significant plots since his introduction as the troubled character Ravi back in 2022.
The source noted that the actor has become a firm favourite among viewers who hold him in high regard.
According to the informant, he has chosen to concentrate on upcoming ventures but intends to remain on the production until December to complete several compelling narratives featuring his character.
Since his arrival in the fictional London borough, Thiara’s on-screen persona has revealed familial mysteries, been implicated in a killing, and managed intricate romantic entanglements.
Ravi learned that Nish Panesar (portrayed by Navin Chowdhry) was his biological parent, and subsequently killed Ranveer Gulati (played by Anil Goutam), whom he had believed to be his father, claiming self-defence as justification.
The character also shares a partnership with Priya Nandra-Hart (performed by Sophie Khan Levy), with whom he shares two children – son Nugget (played by Juhaim Rasul Choudhury) and daughter Avani (played by Aaliyah James).
Approximately twelve months prior, Ravi collaborated with Nicola Mitchell (portrayed by Laura Doddington) to establish a narcotics business, though half a year afterwards she retaliated by drugging his beverage, leading him to inadvertently cause his own child to fall into a coma.
Much of the 2026 broadcast has centered on Ravi’s psychological wellbeing and trauma symptoms, and in advance of the narrative arc, Thiara called on audiences to acknowledge the person rather than viewing the character solely as an antagonist.
Certain viewers had found it challenging to sympathise with the persona given his conduct towards Harry Mitchell (played by Elijah Holloway).
Thiara expressed hope that audiences could move beyond Ravi’s previous actions during the forthcoming storyline, for which the programme collaborated with the mental health organisation Samaritans.
He indicated that his wish was for viewers to see a person grappling with difficulties during these scenes.
He further explained that while some might hold his past behaviour against him, he believed people would recognise the human being underneath rather than focusing solely on the character or his history.
Thiara secured the Villain of the Year accolade at the now-discontinued British Soap Awards in 2023 and received nomination for Serial Drama Performance at the National Television Awards.
A representative for the programme declined to offer any statement when approached by Newsquest.