Rukku Nahar was raised in a single-parent home in Bedford during her formative years, where she was influenced by her culture and quiet fortitude. After her parents divorced, she was raised with her younger brother and formed an unbreakable sense of self. A sensitivity that later served as the basis for her on-screen personas was ingrained by her Indian-Punjabi heritage, which is steeped in customs and generational storytelling. Although Bedford isn’t usually seen as a springboard for careers in British entertainment, it gave Rukku a certain quiet self-assurance that has worked incredibly well for her.
She surprisingly found her way into acting at the age of 14 without enrolling in a drama conservatory. That passion grew steadily and had deep roots. She honed her craft at Identity School of Acting, a training ground renowned for generating talent that is refreshingly grounded, after graduating from Hastingsbury Upper School. Identity, which was especially creative in its curriculum, provided her with the means to represent complexity, which characterized her performance as Selina Khan in Wolfblood.
She was able to blend inner strength and teenage vulnerability in her role in the supernatural CBBC series Wolfblood. Her own coming-of-age story felt remarkably similar to the role: she was trying to find her place while clinging to her uniqueness. However, she connected with a far wider audience in her role as Habiba Ahmed on EastEnders. Her persona added emotional depth and cultural representation to a long-running British soap opera, particularly at a time when diversity was being scrutinized and publicly demanded.
Rukku Nahar – Personal and Professional Overview
| Full Name | Rukku Priya Nahar |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | February 28, 1996 |
| Age | 29 years |
| Place of Birth | Bedford, Bedfordshire, England, UK |
| Height | 1.63 m (5 ft 4 in) |
| Nationality | British (of Indian-Punjabi descent) |
| Notable Roles | Selina in Wolfblood, Habiba in EastEnders |
| Career Start | 2014 (YouTube’s Corner Shop Show) |
| Education | Identity School of Acting |
| Relationship Status | Single (Last linked with Micheal Griffiths, 2024) |
| Net Worth | Estimated $1–5 million |
| @rukkunahar | |
| Reference | www.imdb.com/name/nm7234397 |
From intense romance to heartbreaking betrayal, Rukku’s depiction of Habiba was remarkably clear in its emotional range. In less capable hands, the plot involving Habiba’s off-screen pregnancy and Jags Panesar’s arrest could have been easily discarded. However, Rukku gave it a sense of repercussion. Her narrative power—even in absence—was brought to light when Nish Panesar later made reference to her character in an effort to control family dynamics.
Her reputation started to drastically change after she left EastEnders in 2020. Stunning Instagram selfies, elegant red carpet attire, and mysterious captions showed a woman developing her artistic independence. The metamorphosis was spiritually based as well as physical. After shedding her soap star persona, she became a versatile and adaptable actress who was eager to broaden her audience. Fans were drawn back into her personal circle when she made public appearances with Love Island alum Micheal Griffiths, which sparked rumors of a new romance.
She made a comeback in 2023 with The Buckingham Murders, which served as her official introduction to Bollywood-style filmmaking. This change was especially helpful because it allowed her to reach a wider audience of people who were eager to see themselves on both sides of the screen. This type of cross-cultural fluidity is not only accepted but also essential for British-Asian artists. Due to the industry’s notable slowness in acknowledging such dual identities, talents are frequently forced to take sides. Rukku won’t do it.
Her way of life has also drawn attention in recent years. She shares everything from yoga sessions and Formula 1 weekends at Silverstone to intimate moments of introspection with her more than 60,000 Instagram followers. These posts aren’t very carefully planned; they have a surprisingly low budget aesthetic, are frequently captured in natural light, and have captions that address her audience directly. In one, she made a joke about having to redo her makeup for a picture. Honesty like that resonates.
Her story is reminiscent of other British-Asian talents who have faced comparable challenges, such as Priya Davdra, who played her on-screen sister Iqra, or Gurlaine Kaur Garcha, who costarred in EastEnders as Ash Kaur. Collectively, they marked a shift in British television, where representation is now a strategic necessity rather than a progressive afterthought. Rukku supports a larger movement toward inclusivity just by being herself.
The roles she rejects as well as the ones she accepts are what give her presence such strength. She hasn’t flocked to every opportunity or plastered her face on streaming services. Rather, her decisions seem purposeful, with long-term planning evident in every aspect. It’s an especially daring move in a field that is frequently characterized by oversaturation and urgency. In that way, Rukku’s career is a pacing study. She has grown more thoughtfully and deeply rooted, but much more slowly than some of her peers.
Fans’ expectations of a return to EastEnders were dashed in recent months. Although Habiba’s son made a fleeting appearance, producers have not said she will return. But this could work in Rukku’s favor. Her horizons appear to be incredibly broad with her entry into drama-driven films and her potential role as a lead in upcoming series. She has made room for something much bigger by leaving soap operas.
