Shobu Kapoor plays the loveable yet weary Mrs Khan in Citizen Khan. We chat to her on the travails of being Mrs Khan.                   

It is tough being Mr Khan but even tougher being Mrs Khan explains Shobu.

"In the second series we all know how our characters react or behave. Mr Khan keeps screwing everything up, Mrs Khan gets angry, they make up, that’s the process.
All the characters are expanded and grow in season 2. the writers have created more depth.

"Mrs Khan comes and goes in little snippets.
"She manages her whole household. And then, of course, there is the challenge of Mrs Malik. That’s an interesting facet.
"She wants to be a Mrs Malik with all the glamour. But she can’t. Even when Mrs Khan wears lipstick it doesn’t look right on her! She is unwittingly like Mrs Bucket from ‘Keeping Up Appearances."

Had she ever tempted to go out for the day dressed as Mrs Khan?
"I’ve never been asked that before! The answer is a resounding NO!"
"When in first came to the UK, I used to wear my traditional clothes to Drama School.
"People would stare at me as I was walking down the street.
"I thought they were staring because I was so beautiful! And that I must have an air of je ne sais quoi. My friend swiftly told me to look in the mirror."
"The colourful churidar with a jumper and a fake fur coat was why people stared!"


You are such a familiar face because of Eastenders. Do people recognise you as Mrs Khan after the makeover?

"I was praying to God that it wouldn’t happen! I am consciously wearing my leather jacket out more often.

"Last year though two guys stopped their car when I was walking down the street, and shouted out ‘Mrs Khan!’ So yes, unfortunately I am being recognised as Mrs Khan.

"In fact, only yesterday a chap came up to me and asked me if my name was Gita."

How did you feel after the criticism faced during the first series?

To be honest, I wasn’t particularly affected by it. In the great scheme of things there were only a couple of hundred complaints but there were more than 3 million viewers.

As a community, we should be able to laugh at ourselves. It shows a sign of maturity. The Khan’s are the Khan’s. They only represent themselves. It’s fun.

Besides, enough people like it that they want to see it again. It’s a democracy. The majority wins.

Panic ensues in any household during a wedding. Can we anticipate tumultuous times in the Khan household?

Mrs Khan panics when someone breathes! A note to the producers: please don’t put in another wedding into the show! Mrs Khan can’t handle it!

It will be massive fun to see how the wedding plans develop!

Can you see elements of your own family in the Khan family dynamics?

The writers have captured the basis of family life in the Khan family. For example, the favouritism. All families do it! Alia is her dad’s favourite. Shazia is the mum’s  favourite.

The Khan family could be any family, irrespective of culture or colour.

Is it nerve wrecking filming in front of a studio audience?

My background is theatre so I’m used to a live audience. Although I have never done sitcom with a live audience before.

It’s an interesting mix of TV and theatre. The audience end up watching it on a big screen as the equipment all gets in the way, so we don’t have that actual contact with the audience. But it definitely enhances the atmosphere.

What is next for you?

I’ve set up a film production company called Roman Candle. At the moment we are raising funds for a short feature called ‘The Adventurers.’ This is about migration which is such an interesting topic.

Next year we will make a feature called ‘Platinum Road.’ This is the story of two women travelling across Europe. I’ll be acting in that one as well as producing it.

This career turn is a whole new world. I’ve learnt never to moan as an actor again! Actors have it so easy when you compare it to what goes on behind the scenes! It’s such hard work it’s extraordinary!


Citizen Khan is back on the BBC from 9.30pm tonight.