Video LoadingVideo UnavailableClick to playTap to playThe video will auto-play soon8CancelPlay nowGet daily celeb exclusives and behind the scenes house tours direct to your inboxMore Newsletters SubscribePlease enter a valid emailSomething went wrong, please try again later.More NewslettersWe use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More infoThank you for subscribing!We have more newslettersShow me See OurPrivacy Notice See OurPrivacy Notice×Group 28 Get daily celeb exclusives and behind the scenes house tours direct to your inboxInvalid emailSomething went wrong, please try again later.Sign UpNo thanks, closeWe use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info×Group 28Thank you for subscribing!We have more newslettersShow MeNo thanks, closeSee our
Privacy NoticeAn EastEnders star split from her millionaire partner after reportedly finding out about his affair with his own cousin. Former Footballers’ Wives actress Laila Rouass, who makes her sensational debut in EastEnders on Monday, 5 August, was said to have been left seething back in 2008, when she found out that mobile phone mogul Nasa Khan whisked the family member away to New York. Devastated Laila, then 37, allegedly ordered Nasa – who is the father of their daughter, Inez – out of their Surrey home. She was reported to have secured a restraining order which prevented Nasa, then aged 36, from coming within 200 yards of her, reported the Mirror. Sign up to OK!’s daily newsletter to get updates sent to your inbox for free A close friend of the couple shared at the time: “Laila’s devastated. She didn’t have a clue Nasa had gone to America in the company of a woman. When she found out it was his first cousin, the pain was even worse.” When approached in 2008, Laila simply stated: “I can confirm that we’ve split up.”
Laila Rouass makes her sensational debut in EastEnders
(Image: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)
Suki and Ayesha reunite after years apart
(Image: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)
Read More
Related Articles
You can still get tickets for Taylor Swift’s last Eras Tour in London
Read More
Related Articles
Iconic 80s star met horrific end after incredible one-hit wonder success
Tech tycoon Nasa, reportedly then sat on a fortune of £45million, was crowned Entrepreneur of the Year back in 2002. East London-raised Laila, the eldest of seven children to an Indian mother and Moroccan father, previously opened up about her 12-year marriage to family acquaintance Abdeslam Rouass, which shockingly remained unconsummated until their divorce. Laila, 53, who also starred in Holby City for 10 years as Sahira Shah, says appearing in EastEnders is a “lifelong dream come true”. Her character, Ayesha, arrives in Walford after receiving an invite from Nish, and it soon becomes clear that she shares a past with him, Suki and the Panesar family. Show bosses hinted it will emerge that Ayesha was acquainted with Suki and Nish years ago, but they’ve lost contact over time.
Laila Rouass and her dance partner Anton Du Beke on Strictly
(Image: PA)
Laila starred as Amber Gates in Footballers’ Wives
(Image: No credit)
Chatting about her role on the show, Laila shared: “I cannot tell you how excited I am to be in EastEnders. I was born in the East End and grew up there, and there was such a buzz when the show started. Even though I was little at the time, I can clearly remember the first episode and Doctor Legg arriving at the flat where Reg Cox had been murdered. “I’ve also known Navin Chowdhry (Nish Panesar) for many years, so it was great to work with him again and to do scenes with Balvinder Sopal (Suki Panesar) and the rest of the Panesars as Ayesha reunites with them. This is a lifelong dream come true.” Laila has also starred in Primeval and Spooks, and competed on the seventh series of Strictly Come Dancing in 2009, where she danced with Anton Du Beke. She recently took to Instagram amidst Strictly’s swirling rumours to defend Anton, highlighting that she has been the victim of “false accusations, online abuse and harassment aimed at me and my family”. She continued: “Strictly is a show I have always loved, so when I was offered the opportunity to compete, I was ecstatic. When I was paired with Anton, I knew was in safe hands. The show demands much of your time and energy. Anton and I rehearsed seven days a week for approx 6/7 hours a day. This was on my insistence and Anton made himself available at these times. At no point did I feel pressured by Anton or the producers to add more time to rehearsals.” Laila is in a relationship with her long-term fiancé, snooker legend Ronnie O’Sullivan, 48. The couple first met back in 2012 when she was looking for a house and was shown Ronnie’s place. They split in 2022 after 10 years together, but reunited two months later. Story SavedYou can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.Follow OK! MagazineFacebookTwitterCommentMore OnEastEndersStrictly Come DancingHolby City