Kulvinder Ghir is a British actor, comedian and writer. He is best known as one of the cast members in the sketch show Goodness Gracious Me (1998–2015). He is also known for playing Aslam in the Yorkshire-based film Rita, Sue and Bob Too! (1987), and Poly Verisof in Foundation.
Early life Ghir was born in Nairobi, Kenya to Indian Punjabi parents of Sikh heritage. Ghir grew up in the Chapeltown suburb of Leeds, England. Ghir first began performing on stage at 13, going on to play comedy clubs between 15 and 17, thereafter enrolling in a London drama school.
Career Ghir made his first television appearance as a teenager in 1981 on the Yorkshire Television programme The Extraordinary People Show. At the time, he was looking at going into animation, and was one of three teenagers chosen to question Gerry Anderson about his techniques, and for general advice.
His next TV appearance was in 1985, in the recurring role of Davy Malik in the BBC drama Howards' Way. His breakthrough role came in 1987, in the controversial British film Rita, Sue and Bob Too. Since then, he has worked extensively in film, television and theatre.
He is best known as being one of four regular cast members in the BBC sketch comedy Goodness Gracious Me, in both its radio and TV incarnation. Amongst the many characters Ghir played were "Chunky Lafunga", a sexy Bollywood "hero", the superhero Bhangra Man, and as one half of the "Bhangramuffins" duo (alongside series co-writer Sanjeev Bhaskar).
He is also known for providing the voice of Ajay Bains in Postman Pat.
His play Dusky Warriors premiered at the Theatre Royal, Stratford, London, in 1995.
He also lent his voice to a few animated series aside from Postman Pat, including Chop Socky Chooks and the 2015 reboot of Bob the Builder.
In 2009, he was in the film 31 North 62 East as Tariq.
From September 2009 to May 2011, Ghir was part of the cast of BBC Three comedy series Lunch Monkeys, playing Mohammed Khan, father of Abdullah Afzal's character. The show lasted two series.
In 2013, he appeared as one of the feuding brothers in the film Jadoo. He also appeared in the final episode of the sitcom Big School, as Mr Rupesh the school bus driver. He also hosted the 2013 Brit Asia TV Music Awards. From 2013 to 2019, he played Cyril in Still Open All Hours.
In 2019, he played the protagonist's father in Blinded by the Light.
Filmography Film YearTitleRoleNotes1987Rita, Sue and Bob TooAslam1993It's Your Choice: Interviewee PreparationInterviewee #3Short film; Direct-to-videoMeetings Bloody MeetingsShort film1995Brothers in TroubleAgent2002Bend It Like BeckhamTeetuTomorrow La Scala!Rajiv2003Ice Cream DreamDadShort film2004Lighthouse HillRaymonburrDead CoolDoctor2006Halal HarryGhoniNina's Heavenly DelightsTV PresenterVan Wilder: The Rise of TajTaj's Father2007Send in the ClownsDr HomayonShort film2008Ealing ComedyAlfie SinghWith Alistair McGowanA Distant MirageKatar Singh200931 North 62 EastTariq MalimPeter Kay's Animated All-Star BandAjay (voice)Short film; direct-to-videoKing JeffMr ZaheerShort film2010The ArborRafeeDocumentary film2011Up ThereAliMumbai CharlieThe DoctorShort film2019The Queen's CorgiSanjay (voice)UK versionBlinded by the LightMalik
Television YearTitleRoleNotes1981The Extraordinary People ShowSelf/ParticipantQuestioned Gerry Anderson about his techniques1985Tucker's LuckSumilEpisodes: "Bookends/Vanished" and "Phased Out & Washed Up"1985–1986Howards' WayDavy Malik18 episodes1988Screen TwoSunilEpisode: "Lucky Sunil"1990CasualtyJeevanEpisode: "Remembrance"1991Waterfront BeatPC Ashir Malek4 episodesG.B.H.RaviTelevision miniseriesEpisodes: "Message Received" and "Over and Out"Crimewatch FileIdris AliEpisode: "A Party to Murder"1992Northern CrescentTelevision movieCrime StoryNizam HoseinEpisode: "Gone Too Far: The Mystery of Mrs. Muriel McKay"1998–2015Goodness Gracious MeVarious roles21 episodes2000At Home with the BraithwaitesManjit Mathura2 episodes2000The StrangerersKeithEpisode: "Angels"2000–2002Holby CityAnil Banerjee10 episodes2004–2017Postman PatMultiple characters158 episodes2007–2008Chop Socky ChooksAdditional Voices17 episodes2008–2011Lunch MonkeysMohammed Khan3 episodes2011PsychovilleMr KakkarEpisode: "Hancock"Comedy LabLatte aka The DaddyEpisode: "Kabadasses"2013–2019Still Open All HoursCyrilSeries Regular2015–2017Bob the BuilderAnish Bose (voice)6 episodes; UK and US versions2018–2020Thomas & FriendsVarious Indian Voices (voice)UK and US versions2019DeliciousMohanEpisode: "Do What Feels Right"Beecham HouseMool Chand6 episodesLala's LadiezLalaUnknown episodes2020Black NarcissusGeneral Toda Rai2 episodesHildaAdditional voices (voice)13 episodes2023FoundationPoly Verisof8 episodesCall the MidwifeKulvir SharmaChristmas Special2025VirdeeRanjit Virdee6 episodes
See also List of British Sikhs
References
External links