Bank of Dave 2 boasts a star-studded cast, including Happy Valley’s Amit Shah but what else is there to know about this actor beyond his role in the film?
It’s been two years since the heartwarming ‘true’ story of Bank of Dave first graced , featuring The Diplomat’s Rory Kinnear as the lead character, Dave Fishwick.
The sequel, titled The Loan Ranger, has now landed on , with Dave enlisting the help of various individuals in his quest to combat payday lenders and loan sharks exploiting vulnerable people.
Among these allies is Oliver, portrayed by Amit Shah, a local Citizens Advice counsellor who willingly joins Dave’s crusade and develops a close bond with American financial journalist Jessica, played by Chrissy Metz.
As viewers continue to immerse themselves in Bank of Dave 2, let’s delve into the life of Amit Shah, the man behind the character of Oliver.
Inside Bank of Dave 2 actor Amit Shah’s life from Happy Valley admission to next role with Royle Family star (Image: NETFLIX)
The Royle Family star Sue Johnston will be starring in the mini-series Riot Women alongside actor Amit Shah. (Image: GETTY)
Early Life
Born in North London in 1981, Shah’s parents hailed from Kenya, while his grandparents were originally from Gujarat, India.
His father was an accountant and his mother worked at a health-food shop, with Shah not contemplating a career in acting until he was cast as the lead in a school play at the age of 16.
This experience ignited his passion for performing arts, leading him to study drama at Staffordshire University before honing his craft at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) in West London.
In 2003, he earned the approval of his school principal to finish his studies early and join the cast of Bombay Dreams, the West End extravaganza produced by none other than Lord Andrew Lloyd-Webber.
Happy Valley
Shah has become a familiar face on television since the dawn of the millennium, appearing in a slew of hit series such as Benidorm, Casualty, Hustle, Black Mirror, Fresh Meat, Silent Witness, His Dark Materials, The Witcher and Mr Bates Vs The Post Office.
One of his standout roles was as the pharmacist Faisal Bhatti in the acclaimed drama Happy Valley penned by Sally Wainwright.
Faisal’s storyline took a shocking turn when he murdered Joanna Hepworth (portrayed by Mollie Winnard) with a rolling pin, leaving viewers aghast.
Discussing the show’s suspense-filled conclusion on the podcast Obsessed with…Happy Valley, Shah confessed they shot multiple endings.
“I still don’t know how it all ends up for him because we filmed the final scenes in various different ways.
“Sally [Wainwright, creator] was actually directing those. So it’s quite open and we did different options, so I’m not entirely sure how he’s gonna end up.”
Actor Amit Shah starred as pharmacist Faisal Bhatti in Happy Valley season three. (Image: BBC)
Love life
Steering away from the public eye, the Bank of Dave actor maintains a private personal life, meaning details about his off-screen endeavors remain largely under wraps.
It’s been revealed that he’s romantically involved with a voiceover artist named Amy Green, who, as per her bio, is the “voice of Bixby”, Samsung’s virtual assistant.
While the duration of their relationship remains private, Shah sports a ring on his wedding finger in recent photos, suggesting the couple may have tied the knot.
Looking ahead
Shah’s IMDb profile indicates his upcoming role as Sanjay in the six-part series Riot Women, currently in post-production.
He’ll be sharing the screen with Sue Johnston of The Royle Family fame, playing Auntie Mary, and joining a stellar cast including Tamsin Greig of Friday Night Dinner, Joanna Scanlan from The Larkins, and Lorraine Ashbourne, known for Alma’s Not Normal.
The plot synopsis teases: “Follows a group of middle-aged women, as they form a punk-rock band to participate in a talent contest”.
Bank of Dave 2: The Loan Ranger is available to watch on .