'EastEnders' Dalip Tahil may face deportation

Tahil, who landed a major role in popular British serial EastEnders, may face deportation to India for allegedly working in UK illegally.

Bollywood actor Dalip Tahil, who made his debut at the West End in Bombay Dreams and then landed a major role in one of the most popular British serial, EastEnders, may, it is alleged, be deported to India because he could be working in this country illegally. Some have questioned whether he is a victim of a kind of racism.

Strange, but true, Tahil has been under attack from British-born Asian actors who it is said have been very upset that an Indian-born actor landed the cushy role.

Tahil, who plays charmer Dan Ferreira has been reportedly questioned by Home Office officials after problems over his work permit. Bosses at the BBC1 soap are faced with the nightmare that one of their top soap stars could possibly be deported.

They are backing Tahil in his fight to get a new permit and remain in Britain and it is believed they have called a crisis meeting involving BBC lawyers for tomorrow.

However, scriptwriters have been made aware that Tahil may have to be hastily written out of the show. An insider said: "This is extremely embarrassing for the BBC. If it turns out they have been employing an illegal worker then, believe me, heads will roll.

"They could end up having to drop Dalip and just imagine the stink if he is kicked out of the country."

BBC1 is trying hard to avoid any embarrassment. Its controller Lorraine Heggessey and Mal Young, Head of Drama, have been informed of tomorrow's meeting to try to save Dalip.

The Home Office, reportedly, sent two letters to the BBC demanding an explanation over his work status but it is claimed one did not reach and the BBC bosses became aware of the situation only after the second letter reached them last Thursday.

A source has been quoted saying: "This is a very difficult situation. Dalip has had a big impact on the show and is one of its best loved characters. It would be a nightmare to lose him over something like this."

Tahil had come to Britain last year to work on Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical Bombay Dreams on a permit which allowed him to work only for the musical. It was up to the BBC to apply for a fresh permit before it employed him. If immigration officials believe the breach is serious enough Tahil could be sent back to India, although only after a lengthy appeals process. Anyhow Tahil will not be allowed to film any more episodes until the matter is resolved.

A BBC spokesman said: "We are concerned about any potential problems and we have a view to solving them as soon as possible." An Immigration Service spokesman said: "We can not comment on individual cases."

Apparently after he was selected for the role in EastEnders some Britain-born Asian actors complained to their union Equity over the fact that an Indian-born actor got the coveted part before them. It is likely that the resentful actors may have tipped off authorities about Tahil's work permit status. He has been the target of a hate campaign and subjected to a series of attacks since landing the high-profile part.

A complaint that his papers were not in order was made in August. Tahil had joined the TV soap in June, as the head of a new family, the Ferreiras. Soon after a group of British Asian actors called the BBC's casting decision "disgraceful". They said, a UK performer should have been given the role.

Tahil said: "One aspect of what I read hurts because British Asian actors have come to Bollywood and pursued a career there. One I know couldn't even speak Hindi." He said nobody complained when he appeared in London musical Bombay Dreams. It is a disgrace and an insult to British Asian actors.

Two high-profile British Asian actors, Albert Moses and Renu Setna, complained in trade newspaper The Stage that home-grown talent was being overlooked. Moses, who has appeared in East Is East and Octopussy, said: "British Asian actors have been fightingfor the last five years to persuade the BBC to bring an Asian family into EastEnders and when at last it happens it goes to Bollywood. "It is a disgrace and an insult to British Asian actors. This is a terrible thing for the BBC to do. It should be ashamed." Setna, who featured in Bridget Jones' Diary, said: "I have heard that for this storyline the BBC has brought over a Bollywood star to play the father. "Why, when we have excellent Asian actors of our own?"

But a BBC spokeswoman had said: "After due consideration, Dalip was deemed to be the most appropriate actor for the job."