Gita Kapoor

WHO?

Name: Gita Kapoor
First Appeared: 18th February 1985
Last Appeared: 24th September 1998
Played by: Shobu Kapoor

Gita Kapoor arrived in Albert Square in February 1993, heavily pregnant and ready to start a new chapter with her husband, Sanjay. Sanjay’s business ventures had failed spectacularly, forcing Gita to live with her sister, Meena, while Sanjay gambled away their savings. Eventually, Sanjay secured a flat at 43B Albert Square just in time for Gita to go into labour. Unfortunately, Sanjay was MIA, leaving Richard Cole to hold Gita’s hand as she gave birth to their daughter, Sharmilla.

Parenthood wasn’t a walk in the park for Gita, especially with Sanjay’s lack of support and Meena’s constant meddling. Gita suffered from post-natal depression and became suspicious of Sanjay’s fidelity, particularly after seeing him with Michelle Fowler. Meena, always the snob, initially defended Sanjay but later betrayed Gita by sleeping with him. Gita’s discovery of their affair led her to throw both of them out and seek revenge by denying Sanjay access to Sharmilla and the market stall.

Gita’s struggles continued, facing racist attacks and further disappointment from Sanjay’s gambling habits. Despite these challenges, they reconciled on Christmas Day 1994 and tentatively began to rebuild their relationship. However, Sanjay’s return to India in 1995 and the arrival of the charming yet deceitful Guppy Sharma complicated things further. After investing in a dodgy deal and facing mounting debts, Sanjay and Gita tried to conceive another child, only to be hit with the news of Sanjay’s low sperm count.

In 1998, Gita’s disappearance with Sharmilla led to a whirlwind of speculation and suspicion towards Sanjay. Months later, she was found in Birmingham with a newborn son, Arjun, from a one-night stand. Sanjay, after much deliberation, decided to forgive Gita and embrace their new family dynamic. However, a scandalous article exposed their troubles, leading to relentless media attention and bullying for Sharmilla. Realizing they could no longer stay in Walford, the Kapoors left for good in September 1998, seeking peace and a fresh start away from the chaos. Unfortunately, ten years later, Gita was amongst the humans exterminated by the Daleks’ during their invasion in 2009.