Bend It Like Beckham : About The Cast


Parminder K. Nagra (Jess Bhamra)
BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM marks Parminder Nagra's feature film debut. In 2003 she
will also be seen in Miramax's ELLA ENCHANTED and on the UK Channel 4's "Twelfth Night. " She has just completed "Second Generation," a two-part drama for Channel 4 in which she plays a leading role. Nagra's television credits also include "A&E," "Donovan Quick," and "Turning World. "

KEIRA KNIGHTLEY (Jules Paxton)
Keira Knightley was just 17 years old when principal photography began on BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM. She is currently filming Gore Verbinski's PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN, in which she stars opposite Orlando Bloom, Johnny Depp and Geoffrey Rush. Knightley's film credits also include: THE HOLE, PRINCESS OF THIEVES, STAR WARS: EPISODE I - THE PHANTOM MENACE, THE BEGINNING and INNOCENT LIE.

Jonathan Rhys-Meyers (Joe)
Jonathan Rhys Meyers's film credits include VELVET GOLDMINE, Fox Searchlight's TITUS, PROZAC NATION, RIDE WITH THE DEVIL, THE LOSS OF SEXUAL INNOCENCE, THE GOVERNESS, B. MONKEY, THE EMPEROR'S WIFE, I'LL SLEEP WHEN I'M DEAD and THE TESSERACT.
His television credits include Director Andrei Konchalovsky's "Lion In Winter," the critically acclaimed drama "Gormenghast" for the BBC, "Samson and Delilah" (BBC) and "The Magnificent Ambersons. "

ANUPAM KHER (Mr. Bhamra)
Anupam Kher has starred in over 270 Bollywood films. BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM marks his first English language feature. His film credits include KABHI KHUSHI KABHIE GHAM, KYO KII, JODI NO 1, AASHIQUE, REFUGEE, MOHABBATEIN, DHAI AKSHAR PREM KE, and DHADKHAN.

ARCHIE PANJABI (Pinky Bhamra)
In addition to BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM, Archie Panjabi's feature film credit highlights include: EAST IS EAST, ESCAPE TO SOMERSET and BIDESHI. Her current projects include Michael Winterbottom's CODE 46, in which she stars opposite Tim Robbins, and ENTERING BLUE ZONE.
Panjabi's television credits include the four-part television film "White Teeth," and the 10-part BBC program "Grease Monkey," as well as "Tough Love" with Ray Winstone (Granada Television), "In The Beginning" (Hallmark), and "The Brand Spanking New Show" with Harry Enfield (Sky 1).

SHAZNAY LEWIS (Mel)
BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM marks the feature film debut for award-winning singer/songwriter Shaznay Lewis. Previously one quarter of the female band All Saints, who enjoyed a string of number one singles starting with their debut hit 'I Know Where It's At. " Their second album, "Saints and Sinners," included the song "Pure Shores" written by Lewis and William Orbit for the soundtrack of Danny Boyle's THE BEACH.

FRANK HARPER (Mike Paxton)
Frank Harper's film credits include LOCK, STOCK AND TWO SMOKING BARRELS, A ROOM FOR ROMEO BRASS, SHINER, THE LAST MINUTE, KEVIN & PERRY GO LARGE, THE SEARCH FOR JOHN GISSING, LUCKY BREAK, SOUTH WEST 9 and TUBE TALES.

JULIET STEVENSON (Paula Paxton)
After graduating with a Gold Bancroft Medal from RADA, it took the Olivier Award- winning Juliet Stevenson just one year to find her first prominent acting role with the Royal Shakespeare Company. One of the UK's most accomplished actresses, Stevenson's film credits include NICHOLAS NICKLEBY, TRULY MADLY DEEPLY, EMMA, FOOD OF LOVE, THE SEARCH FOR JOHN GISSING, PLAY, THE SECRET RAPTURE, WHO DEALT?, THE TRIAL, LADDER OF SWORDS and DROWNING BY NUMBERS.
On stage, Stevenson has acted in some of the UK's finest theatre productions and has spent many years with the Royal Shakespeare Company. Her television credits amongst others include, "Trial by Fire" (ITV), "Cider with Rosie" (Carlton), "Stones, Scissors, Paper" (BBC), and the award winning drama "The Politician's Wife" (Channel Four).
Stevenson has recently finished filming opposite Julia Roberts in BEING JULIA and is currently performing "A Little Night Music" for the New York City Opera at the Lincoln Center New York.

SHAHEEN KHAN (Mrs. Bhamra)
BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM is Shaheen Khan's second feature film directed by Chadha. Film credits include the award-winning BHAJI ON THE BEACH, PARTITION, SAMMY AND ROSIE GET LAID, CAPTIVES, HOLLOW REED and TOMORROW NEVER DIES. Television credits include "Love Match," "Love Birds," "Old Flame" (BBC), and "Boon" (Central Television).

AMEET CHANA (Tony)
Ameet Chana's film credits include THE DRIVE, WILD WEST and PRINCELET OF GOLUM STREET. Theatre credits include "Papa was a Bus Conductor Innit" (Hammersmith Lyric), a Bollywood 2000 Tour for the RIFCO, "Balti Kings" (Tamasah Theatre Company) and a One Nation Theatre Tour of "Don't Look at My Sister. .. Innit. "

POOJAH SHAH (Meena)
BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM marks Poojah Shah's feature film debut. Her theatre credits include "Wyrd Sisters," "Fen," "A Midsummers Night's Dream" for the Finchley Youth Theatre and "Jesus the Curry King" for the Aylesbury Film Company.

PAVEN VIRK (Bubbly)
Paven Virk's television credits include "Megamaths" (BBC), "Doctors" (BBC) and "In the Name for Love" (Meridian). Paven's theatre credits include, "Don't Look at My Sister… Innit" (Festival Edinburgh and tour), "Arrange that Marriage…Innit" (Bloomsbury Theatre and tour), "Bollywood or Bust" (Watermans Arts) and "Cloud Watching" (Half Moon Theatre).
She trained at Coventry University for the Performing Arts.

PREEYA KALIDAS (Monika)
21-year-old Preeya Kalidas' film credits include BOLLYWOOD QUEEN, EAST IS EAST, THE FIANCEE, TUBE TALES, SARI & TRAINERS, RELATIONSHIPS, VIRTUAL SEXUALITY and JUMP BOY. Her theatre credits include the Andrew Lloyd Webber/Shekhar Kapur West End musical "Bombay Dreams. "
Kalidas trained at Sylvia Young's Drama School in London.

HARVEY VIRDI (Teetu's Mum)
Harvey Virdi's film credits include GRAN and GURU IN SEVEN. Television credits include Mark Mylod's "Baddiel's Syndrome" (Avalon/Sky Television) and "Staying Alive" (LWT). Theatre credits include "When We are Married," "Romeo and Juliet," "Square Circle," and "Playboy of the Asian World" (all for the Leicester Haymarket), "Airport 2000" (Riverside Studios) and Jatinder Verma's production of "Exodus" (Tara Arts/BAC).
Virdi is currently performing the role of Mrs. Peachum in the "The Threepenny Opera" at The Royal National Theatre and will soon commence shooting THUNDERBIRDS (working title).
Virdi trained at the Academy Drama School, London.

ASH VARREZ (Teetu's Dad)
BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM is Ash Varrez's second feature with writer/director Gurinder Chadha, following BHAJI ON THE BEACH. Film credits include A PASSAGE TO INDIA, CLOCKWISE, and MADAME SOUSATZKA. Television credits include "A&E" (Granada Television), "A Mind to Kill" (Fiction Factory), "Close up and True" (United), "Cops," "City Central," and "Maisie Raine" (BBC).
Varrez trained at the Dame Flora Robson Playhouse in Newcastle Upon Tyne.