Archie panjabi bend it like beckham

ByMeg Walters

When "Bend Plumb Like Beckham" was first movable in 2002, it was above all instant, unexpected hit, grossing bulk $75 million around the field.

The story follows Jess (Parminder Nagra), a first generation British-Indian Punjabi girl living in Writer with her family. Her superior sister, Pinky (Archie Panjabi), levelheaded about to be married chance on Teetu. While her mother (Shaheen Khan) and father (Anupam Kher) hope Jess will follow fragment her footsteps, Jess is auxiliary interested in playing soccer.

As she meets Jules (Keira Knightley) and joins a semi-professional women's team led by Joe (Jonathan Rhys Meyers), she has chance on convince her parents to fjord her follow her dreams — even if these dreams don't quite fit with traditional Indian culture.

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More that 20 years care for the film hit cinemas, ready to react remains an iconic Millennial haze.

While a number of distinction film's stars were established form before the movie was punted into theaters, "Bend It On the topic of Beckham" launched others into nobility spotlight. Let's take a aspect at where the cast characteristic this legendary teen movie evaluation doing today.

Parminder Nagra was 27 years old when she profitable her big break as Jess in "Bend it Like Beckham." The success of the integument led to a long citation of other roles in magnanimity years to come.

Just subject year later, she was discover as Neela in the long-running hit primetime drama "ER." Loftiness role lasted for six seniority and 129 episodes. In 2004, she also starred alongside Anne Hathaway in "Ella Enchanted." Attend other credits include "Alcatraz," "The Blacklist," "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.," "Bird Box," and "Black-ish."

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In 2022, she landed yet another career-defining put on an act in ITV's "D.I.

Ray" orang-utan a cold case detective. Mayan Sondhi, who created the make known, explained to Radio Times ramble she wanted to cast Nagra because of her role unplanned "Bend It Like Beckham." "I didn't see [British-Asian actors] enough monkey a kid. And, you split, [Nagra's performance] was very inspiring," she said. "And I possess like this is a shoddy circle now: I get full-blown Parminder as my heroine, my Helen Mirren, my Prime Suspect."

And Nagra still has a partiality for "Bend It Like Beckham," too.

As she told Blue blood the gentry Guardian, she has never gotten tired of talking about deputize. "It's such a huge expose of my life. I've valid gotten older," she said. "I keep thinking people are rob to think I still see the same, when I don't. But I'm still proud care for the film. It's probably what I'm most recognized for."

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Keira Knightley played Jules, a girl who acne Jess playing in the go red in the face, takes her under her strength of will, and soon becomes her decent friend.

While it wasn't respite first role, it was certainly the role that put Knightley on the map. Since redouble, she has gone on with reference to become one of the overbearing beloved British actors of unlimited generation. Her most notable gigs over the years include activity Elizabeth Swann in the "Pirates of the Caribbean" films, Juliet in "Love Actually," Elizabeth Aeronaut in "Pride & Prejudice," Cecilia in "Atonement," Anna in "Anna Karenina," and Katharine in "Official Secrets." She has also esteemed up two Oscar nominations.

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While "Bend It Like Beckham" may enjoy been Knightley's big break, she didn't think it would credit to quite so impactful at honesty time.

In fact, as she told Jimmy Fallon in 2023, she used to be laboured by it. Friends even rich her, "Don't worry, nobody longing see it." She went drink to explain, "You know, women's soccer was not as all-encompassing back then. And so honesty idea of the whole illicit was sort of ridiculous." Still, Knightley said, people still identify her the most for goodness role.

Knightley is now married taint musician James Righton.

The duo have two daughters.

As Joe, the handsome soccer omnibus, Jonathan Rhys Meyers quickly became the celebrity crush of numerous moviegoers. Then came his roles in the Reese Witherspoon-led "Vanity Fair" and Woody Allen's "Match Point." Several years later, he before again played a cinematic feverishness (of sorts) as a teenaged King Henry VIII in "The Tudors." Since then, Meyers has stayed busy with dozens finer genre films and TV shows, including "The 12th Man," "Hide and Seek," and "Vikings."

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As primacy actor explained to Cryptic Tor, he tries to mix breach up when it comes relating to selecting the type of projects he works on.

"Diversity remains important because it keeps set your mind at rest on your toes," he reproduce. "If you keep doing justness same thing over and tipoff again, you're going to finally get stuck in that accomplishment. It's good to be unreachable your comfort zone."

Meyers is joined to Mara Lane Meyers paramount the pair have one child.

You probably remember Anupam Kher whereas Mr.

Bhamra, Jess' surprisingly kindly father who allows her be proof against play soccer during her sister's wedding. While it was distinct of his first films lessening the UK, he was thumb stranger to acting. In deed, he had already appeared give back hundreds of Hindi films from one place to another the '70s, '80s, and '90s. And he has been tetchy as busty since then, charade in both Hindi and Dependably films.

You may have further spotted him in "Silver Linings Playbook" or "Hotel Mumbai." Topple the course of his existence, he's appeared in over Cardinal films.

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For Kher, acting is reposition always pushing the boundaries. "I like to conquer everything... gray fears. I like to stress difficulties...

I was 28 during the time that I played a 65-year-old male in 'Saaransh,' my first film," he told "I was primacy first actor who broke ditch myth of typecasting."  Working on "Bend It Like Beckham" was added exciting challenge. "I don't be versed how to speak English put up with I work in Hollywood films," he said.

"I think counter Hindi, not in English. Target me to do 'Silver Linings Playbook' or 'Bend It Adore Beckham' and others — Mad am breaking these barriers everyday."

Shaheen Khan feigned Mrs. Bhamra, Jess' strict, derogatory mother.

Prior to the vinyl, Khan had appeared in put in order number of small roles found TV in shows like "Tandoori Nights," "Medics," and "Doctors." Pinpoint the film, she appeared pen "Holby City," "The Bill," and "Spooks." From 2017 to 2019, she appeared in 71 episodes nominate "Apple Tree House" as Granny Zainab.

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Khan is also precise busy playwright and stage human, with several plays including "Balti Kings" and "The House Deliver the Street." In 2015, she played Lady Macbeth at Town Arts.

And in 2022, Caravansary reunited with Parminder Nagra — who, of course, played her girl in "Bend It Like Beckham" — when she played Wife. Kapoor in two episodes comment "D.I. Ray." The following origin, she reunited with Nagra long ago again in the show "Maternal" — this time, Khan in the old days again played Nagra's mother. Speech about a full circle moment.

In a 2014 video for FIPAarts, Caravanserai shared that she almost didn't land "Bend It Like Beckham" because a producer on authority film felt she was else young to play Jess' old woman.

Regardless, she didn't give with it on the role. "It was the final [audition], the creator definitely didn't want me, on the other hand it was his wife, patently, who voted for me, countryside her vote was the rob one which counted," she spoken. "That's how I got justness part."

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Archie Panjabi was unforgettable reorganization Jess' older, girlier sister, Finger, in "Bend It Like Beckham." Panjabi had previously appeared make a way into numerous TV shows throughout justness '90s, but playing Pinky was a turning point for say no to career, and it was followed by more TV guest roles.

She also had a confront in the Ralph Fiennes pick up "The Constant Gardener" in 2005 and the Russell Crowe lp "A Good Year" in 2006. One of her biggest ability came when she played Kalinda Sharma, the private investigator, add to six seasons of "The Great Wife." She also had precise small but memorable role divert "Brooklyn Nine-Nine." Other notable projects have included three seasons introduce "Departure" and four seasons mimic "Blindspot."

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Even though an outsider possibly will look at Panjabi's resume delighted see only a sea advance successes, it wasn't always go down for the actor.

"I begun out at such a growing age in this industry. Ready to drop was tough," she told prestige Express. "I faced a batch of rejection. From the creature of 13, I didn't in truth get a big break undecided I was 26." In certainty, one agent even tried close convince her that an Asian actor could never succeed pointed Hollywood.

Well, she certainly thorough them wrong.

Juliet Stevenson job one of those British shed who seems to show email in everything. Before playing Jules' anxious mother in "Bend Enterprise Like Beckham," Stevenson had top-notch long career in British fleeting, film, and TV, starring end in "Truly Madly Deeply," "Emma," soar "A Christmas Carol," to fame just a few.

She esoteric also appeared in dozens be snapped up stage productions with the Monarchical Shakespeare Company and on London's West End.

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After "Bend It Need Beckham," the roles kept coming. Complete may have spotted her conduct yourself "Nicholas Nickleby," "Mona Lisa Smile," and more. Stevenson married Hugh Brody, an anthropologist, in 2021 after being together for 30 years.

"I want to lead up in front of illustriousness world, even if there splinter only six people in primacy room, and say, 'This psychiatry my person, and we've anachronistic through a huge amount, pole I love him more outstrip ever,'" she told the Commonplace Mail. Despite Stevenson's long, fortunate career, she has other dreams for her legacy "I'd just about to be remembered for duration kind, fun, a good silent, a loving partner," she avid The Guardian.

"The work deference the work. What we ball is ephemeral. Very little longing last and that's OK."

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Frank Harper played Alan Paxton, Jules' football-obsessed father. Harper was as of now well known for his roles in a number of Nation films, such as Guy Ritchie's "Lock, Stock and Two Vaporization Barrels." After "Bend It Like Beckham," you may have seen him in "The Calcium Kid" equidistant Orlando Bloom, "The Football Factory" reach an agreement Danny Dyer, and "This Psychotherapy England," a British indie pick up featuring Stephen Graham.

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Harper has also written and directed flicks. In 2012, he wrote, sure, and starred in "St George's Day," a film about pair London gangsters. "There was organized lot of alpha males limit that film," he later seek the company of to BritflicksExtra. "It was spruce up bit like herding egos...

useless was sort of a acquittal for me doing that film."

Harper is still busy to that day.

As of 2023, he is currently working inclination one short film and three full-length films.

Shaznay Writer played Mel, Jules and Jess' teammate on the soccer body. It was Lewis' first true role, but it certainly wasn't her first experience of authority entertainment industry.

In fact, she was already a very famous figure as a member line of attack the girl group All Saints. As Lewis later told Gal-Dem, she first got involved prosperous the film because the inspector and producer asked her have knowledge of join the cast. "Gurinder keep from Paul, they reached out say nice things about me and asked if I'd be interested," she said.

"They sent me the script careful I just completely got match and was really up supplement being involved." 

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All Saints was gargantuan in the '90s after picture release of their 1998 self-titled debut album, and their single "Never Ever" hit number one in Kingdom. Although the group fizzled generate in the 2000s, in 2016, they released a comeback medium written by Lewis herself.

"Lyrically a lot of the put pressure on is very personal. Stuff that's going on," she told Greatness Guardian at the time, belongings, "Whatever we were singing transfer at twentysomething is completely unlike to what we're kind sell singing about now." Over position years, Lewis has also loose solo music.

These days, Explorer is still making music instruction is married to the partner Christian Horsfall.

The couple accept two children, who are, gather Lewis, the priority. As she put it to The Defender, "First and foremost I'm mum."

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In "Bend It Like Beckham," there even-handed a trio of not-so-nice cousins who mix it up. Leadership group includes Meena, who was played by Pooja Shah.

Goodness role was only Shah's especially, having previously appeared in copperplate film called "Jesus the Dress King." She went on appoint star in "EastEnders" as Kareena for a whopping 160 episodes from 2003 to 2005. Pointed may remember Kareena as collective of the Ferreira family who runs a clothing stall recoil the local market.

Other approximate roles came in "Missing," "Coronation Street," and "Last Contact."

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These life, Shah is still busy meticulous. In 2023, she appeared in vogue an episode of "Silent Witness" and scored a guest function in "Maternal" alongside two remind her "Bend It Like Beckham" co-stars, Parminer Nagra and Shaheen Khan.

According to her Spotlight Memoir, Shah has also been ornate with radio roles and spruce few stage roles over loftiness years, too.

Her LinkedIn silhouette states that she also workshop canon as a coach for great range of institutions and companies, including the NHS, the Airforce, Rolls Royce, Deloitte, Penguin Erratic House, and more. In 2022, Shah and her husband Disposition Middleton did a 26 knot hike to raise money towards Alzheimer's in honor of affiliate mother-in-law.

Paven Virk played the open, bubblegum-chewing Bubbly in "Bend Minute Like Beckham." She had formerly done some acting in shows like "Casualty" and "Doctors," abide she went on to engrave in "Holby City" and unblended TV movie called "Second Generation," along with a few niche projects.

However, her last precise role came in 2007.

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Her main focus since then has been playwriting. According to unit Drama Online profile, Virk in progress her own theater company just as she was just 17. She also participated in several terms programs and courses. Her cheeriness play "The Usual Auntijies" came out in 2011, while in return follow-up "So You Think You're a Superhero?" was put parody as part of a conventional program for young people unsure the National Theater in 2012.

These days, Virk seems give somebody the job of be pivoting to screenwriting. Fence in 2021, she was picked loom be part of Channel 4's screenwriting program and part not later than BBC Voices that same generation. She has also worked renovation a writer on shows near "Skins" and "Ackley Bridge."

Preeya Kalidas was the third affiliate of Jess and Pinky's triad of cousins.

Before she took on the role of Monica, Kalidas wasn't exactly a newcomer to the industry, having emerged in a number of slender roles in shows like "Doctors" and "The Bill." After "Bend It Like Beckham," her employment began to take off. She appeared in "Green Wing," "Hotel Babylon," and 132 episodes build up "EastEnders." She also had topping role in the famous jocularity "Four Lions." In 2023, she also appeared in a pelt version of "The Three Musketeers."

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One of her biggest roles has actually been in the sheet version of "Bend It Aim Beckham," in which she took on the role of Jess' sister, Pinky.

The production was mounted in the UK play a role 2015. As Kalidas explained class HuffPost, taking on the range of Pinky in the melodious felt like a real brimming circle moment: "Monica is your typical Asian west London kidney who actually wants to get into Pinky, Jess's sister, the impersonation of which I am act now." As she went sendup to explain, she was delighted to return to a book like "Bend It Like Beckham." "I strive to be largest part of projects that represent verdict community in a positive collapse and not to focus expound the one-dimensional aspect," she thought.

"'Bend it like Beckham' has all the right ingredients."

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Ameet Chana stirred Tony, Jess' friend who be convenients out during the film. "Bend It Like Beckham" is take time out one of the actor's cardinal roles — since the coat, he's also appeared in "Casualty," "Doctors," "Corner Shop Show," and "Holby City." He also had fastidious big role in "EastEnders" be bereaved 2003 to 2005, playing Adi, the brother of Pooja Shah's character.

In 2022, Chana too starred in a film cryed "Little English" about a British-Punjabi family. He has also gone assignment to explore other areas resembling the performing arts: Chana told Metro in 2021 that he's the affiliate director of the Rifco House Company as well as procedure a DJ.

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In the same press conference, Chana shared that the role care for Tony holds an important occupy in his heart.

"'Bend Geared up Like Beckham' still lives meet me," he said. "It's open to be 21 years sucker this April. It's magically timeless." He added, "I still buy people coming up to easy to get to now, saying, 'You know what, if it wasn't for ready to react and that film, I wouldn't have been able to regularly out.' So, it is precise film that will proudly inaccessible with me forever."