Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Joel Leaver

Bend It Like Beckham cast now as football film celebrates 20th anniversary

It's the 20th anniversary of Bend It Like Beckham this month after the film became a critical and commercial success on its release in 2002.

The sports comedy - about a teenager who defies her family to pursue her passion for football - was produced, written and directed by Gurinder Chadha, now 62.

It's said to be one of the highest-grossing sports films to focus on association football and was adapted into a stage musical of the same name in 2015.

The film - initially released on April 12, 2002 - features a cast including Parminder Nagra and Keira Knightley, with the pair having gone on to enjoy successful careers over the last two decades.

We've taken a look at what some of the cast have been up to since - from starring in a major franchise to a popular soap opera.

Parminder Nagra

Parminder Nagra (left), pictured with co-star Jonathan Rhys Meyers (right), played Jess Bhamra in Bend It Like Beckham (Bend It/Film Council/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock)

Parminder Nagra, now 46, got her big break playing the lead, Jess Bhamra, in Bend It Like Beckham. The actor has since gone on to enjoy much success on screen in the US.

This includes playing Dr. Neela Rasgotra in the NBC medical series ER from 2003 to 2009 and appearing as Areida in Ella Enchanted (2004), starring alongside Anne Hathaway, 39.

She was later cast in medical drama ER (Channel 4)
Parminder, pictured in 2019, is set to star in a new ITV drama next month (WireImage,)

She's also had roles in The Blacklist, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and 13 Reasons Why, as well as providing her voice for the character Nisha Bains in Postman Pat: The Movie (2014).

Parminder is set to play Detective Inspector Rachita Ray in upcoming ITV drama DI Ray. The four-part series is scheduled to premiere on Monday (May 2) at 9pm.

The actor has a 12-year-old son from her marriage to photographer James Stenson. The pair had got married in 2009, with their divorce finalised in 2013.

Keira Knightley

Keira Knightley played Jules Paxton in the acclaimed sports film (Sygma via Getty Images)
She's gone on to appear in projects such as the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise (Dave Benett/WireImage)

Keira Knightley, now 37, had already appeared in a Star Wars film by the time she played Jules Paxton in Bend It Like Beckham, though the latter was her breakthrough role.

Her biggest role however has been in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, with her playing Elizabeth Swann in the original film, released in 2003, and three of its sequels.

The actor's other credits include lead roles in festive rom-com Love Actually (2003), period romance Pride & Prejudice (2005) and historical drama The Imitation Game (2014).

She recently starred in festive comedy Silent Night and is set to appear in an adaption of science-fiction novel Ancillary Justice. She will play reporter Loretta McLaughlin in drama film Boston Strangler.

Keira has been married to musician James Righton, 38, since 2013. The couple live in Islington with their two young daughters, who were born in 2015 and 2019.

Archie Panjabi

Archie Panjabi (left), pictured with co-star Parminder (right), played Pinky Bhamra (Moviestore/REX/Shutterstock)

Archie Panjabi played Parminder's on-screen sister Pinky Bhamra. Since the release of the film, her credits include The Constant Gardener (2005) and San Andreas (2015).

She played the main role of Kalinda Sharma in political drama series The Good Wife from 2009 to 2015 and she also had a role in popular thriller series The Fall from 2013 to 2014.

Her other credits include a leading role in the Good Wife (Getty Images)
She appeared alongside Jamie Dornan in the thriller series The Fall (Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images f)

Her other credits over the years include roles in shows such as Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Blindspot, Departure, Still Open All Hours and more recently a lead role in Snowpiercer.

The award-winning actor - who last year had a voice role in the animated series Star Wars: The Bad Batch - is said to have married bespoke tailor Rajesh Nihalani in 1998.

Jonathan Rhys Meyers

Jonathan Rhys Meyers played football coach Joe in Bend It Like Beckham. (Bend It/Film Council/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock)

Jonathan Rhys Meyers, now 44, played football coach Joe in Bend It Like Beckham. He's since made a name for himself stateside, in projects such as Mission: Impossible III (2006).

He's however best known for portraying King Henry VIII in the historical drama series The Tudors from 2007 to 2010. He later played the lead in Dracula from 2013 to 2014.

The actor, pictured last year, went on to play King Henry VIII in The Tudors (AFP via Getty Images)

The actor more recently appeared the films Hide and Seek (2021) and The Survivalist (2021). His upcoming projects include action thriller Ambush and comedy film Food Fight.

Jonathan - who has fronted Hugo Boss ad campaigns over the course of his acting career - married his partner Mara Lane in 2016. The couple welcomed a son that same year.

Shaznay Lewis

Shaznay Lewis played Mel Goines in Bend It Like Beckham (Sygma via Getty Images)
The performer, pictured last year, is better known as a musician though (Getty Images)

Shaznay Lewis, now 46, had made a name for herself before playing Mel Goines in Bend It Like Beckham - with her having previously been a member of group All Saints.

She appeared in another film, Hideous Man, in the same year but hasn't pursued a career in acting since. She's instead focused on singing, releasing solo album Open in 2004.

Shaznay (centre left) is best known as a member of All Saints (WireImage)

Over the years, Shaznay has reunited with her All Saints bandmates, with the group having reformed on several occasions since their initial split back in 2001.

She's more recently said to have written songs for other artists, including co-writing Black Heart, released by Stooshe, and How Ya Doin?, released by Little Mix - both in 2013.

Shaznay married dancer Christian Horsfall in 2004. The couple welcomed their first child two years after their nuptials and a second child in 2009.

Anupam Kher

Anupam Kher went on to appear in projects such as The Boy With The Top Knot (BBC/Parti Productions & Kudos)

Anupam Kher, now 67, played Mohaan Bhamra in the sports film. He has since appeared in projects such as Silver Linings Playbook (2012) and The Boy With The Top Knot (2017).

He served as the Chairman of the Film and Television Institute of India from 2017 to 2018, and is said to have appeared in over 500 films over the course of his career.

The actor's recent credits include playing Shahbaz Karim in BBC drama Mrs Wilson (2018) and the role of Dr. Vijay Kapoor in medical series New Amsterdam from 2018 to 2021.

He has been married to fellow actor Kirron Kher since 1985. Through the marriage, he is the stepfather of her son Sikandar Kher - who is an actor like his mother and her husband.

Shaheen Khan

Shaheen Khan (right), pictured with co-star Anupam Kehr (left), appeared in Bend It Like Beckham (Moviestore/REX/Shutterstock)

Shaheen Khan, now 61, played Sukhi Bhamra in Bend It Like Beckham. She had previously appeared in a number of episodes of Casualty and an episode of Holby City.

She later had a role in children's show My Life as a Popat - in 2004 and 2007 - and returned to Casualty for a role in 2014. Her other credits include The Five (2016).

The actor has also appeared in episodes of In The Club (2016) as well as having had roles in Unforgotten in 2017, Doctor Who in 2018 and in film Mogul Mowgli (2020).

Juliet Stevenson

Juliet Stevenson had a role in Bend It Like Beckham (Moviestore/REX/Shutterstock)

Do you enjoy reading about celebrities? Sign up for all the best celeb news from the Mirror here .

Juliet Stevenson, now 65, played Paula Paxton in the film. Her credits since its release include roles in shows such as The Village (2013-2014) and Death in Paradise last year.

The actor has appeared in numerous stage productions, including having featured in The Seagull in 2006, Happy Days between 2014 and 2015, as well as Hamlet in 2017.

She has been in a relationship with anthropologist Hugh Brody, since around 1993, with the couple said to live in Highgate. They have two children together.

Preeya Kalidas

Preeya Kalidas went on to appear in EastEnders for a couple of years (BBC)

Preeya Kalidas, now 41, had a minor role as Monica in Bend It Like Beckham. She later appeared in films such as Four Lions (2010) and shows like Hotel Babylon in 2009.

Her biggest role to date however was playing Amira Masood on EastEnders from 2009 to 2012. She later appeared in Casualty and New Blood in 2014 and 2016 respectively.

The actor has also pursued a career in music and played Pinky in the West End adaption of Bend It Like Beckham. She more recently appeared in Everybody's Talking About Jamie.

Do you have a story to sell? Get in touch with us at webcelebs@mirror.co.uk or call us direct 0207 29 33033.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.