User:AnemoneProjectors/Ayesha Rana

Ayesha Rana is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Shivani Ghai. She is a family friend of Zainab Masood (Nina Wadia), and makes her first appearance in the episode broadcast on 17 December 2012.

Storylines
Ayesha is first seen in the café, where Zainab does not recognise her, and accuses her of pushing in the queue ahead of her. Later, Ayesha arrives at Zainab's home while Zainab is wearing a face mask. Zainab is annoyed that she was not ready for Ayesha's visit as she is three weeks early. Ayesha then overhears Zainab telling her son Tamwar Masood (Himesh Patel) that he would be better for her than her suitor, Rashid Kayani (Gurpreet Singh). Zainab tries to get Ayesha and Tamwar together, and she thinks it has worked at her New Year's Eve party, but Tamwar is just looking after Ayesha because she is sick after AJ Ahmed (Phaldut Sharma) spiked the punch. Ayesha then meets Rashid, and thinks he is "alright".

Introduction
Ayesha's arrival was teased by executive producer Lorraine Newman in November 2012, in an interview with Digital Spy when she said, "The Masoods are rightfully incredibly popular and we've got big plans for them. [...] We also have a new female character joining the household in December. Let's just say that she's bound to cause a bit of mischief!" The character and casting were announced on 16 November.

A BBC statement said of her introduction storyline: "Since the tragic death of her beloved father, she has been left alone with a distant mother and uncaring brothers. Ayesha has agreed to fulfil her father's dying wish, going through with an arranged marriage. Can the Masoods help her? And will her time on [Albert] Square encourage this naive young woman to find her voice?" It was said that Ayesha would find living in Walford "a shock to the system, as she is used to grander surroundings." Shivani said of her casting: "I've been watching EastEnders for years and am excited to be joining such an iconic show." Details of Ayesha's arrival emerged on the day of her first episode, when it was revealed that she would be moving to Walford to get to know her suitor who lives in London, and that Ayesha would have a "shaky start" with Zainab, as she initially does not realise who Ayesha is.

Characterisation
Upon the character's announcement, she was described as "Sweet and studious, but rather shy", having lived a sheltered life. She is also described as a "naïve introvert". Her official profile on the BBC website describes her as "Meek and mild", having lived "in a cocoon" for the first 23 years of her life, but is now "keen to discover what life is all about". It reveals that Ayesha is from Newcastle-upon-Tyne, where was happy living with her doting father and had few friends. She has never had a relationship or kissed anybody, which the BBC noted is different from some other young female characters in EastEnders. She is a private person, and her brothers think she is boring. She was distant with her mother and brothers, and when her father died in an accident, her family relationships virtually ended.

Reception
After her departure, Inside Soap said, "Good riddance to the deeply annoying Ayesha. We can't remember when we were more pleased to see the back of an EastEnders character. Probably Keith Miller."