Davinder "Nugget" Gulati is the son of Ravi Gulati and Priya Nandra-Hart, the brother of Avani Nandra-Hart and the grandson of Nish Panesar. However he grew up believing his grandfather was Ranveer Gulati. He made his first appearance on 9 August 2022. He is portrayed by Juhaim Rasul Choudhury.
Backstory[]
Davinder goes by the nickname “Nugget”. His mother Priya and father Ravi had a one night stand which resulted in her getting pregnant with Davinder. Ravi was twenty one and her dealer, he wanted to get rid of the baby but she said no. Not long before Davinder was born, Priya and Ravi decided to get into a relationship and to try and make it work for the sake of their son. However, Ravi’s adoptive father Ranveer tells her to leave Davinder with Ravi and never return or else he will get her killed. Priya contemplated running away with Davinder but after finding out she was pregnant again, Priya decided to leave, fearing that she would loose her unborn child too if she told Ravi about the pregnancy. Ravi found it hard to bond with his son at first; however he eventually got there. Ravi recalls Davinder being an angry baby, and says this is due to him having his clients around. Priya would often charm them into going to buy her nappies. When Davinder ran away from home in October 2023 it was revealed that he had being staying with his mum and his sister Avani, much to Ravi’s shock when he found out she was his daughter.
Davinder was unaware he had any relation to the Panesar family and believed they were just family friends, not his real family. He's lived with Ranveer for most of his life, but now lives with Ravi. When he lived with Ranveer, he would wake up and come downstairs to a pile of presents and music every birthday, despite Ranveer not being a fan of birthdays. Ranveer would also get Davinder any birthday cake he wanted, he even got him one of Warwick castle after he took Davinder there.
Storylines[]
Davinder first arrives in Walford on 9 August 2022, where he sees Amy Mitchell walking through bridge street. His father, Ravi Gulati, Gives him some money and says he’ll see him after his business meeting and to go watch a film, but Davinder says he can think of better things to do than that, and Ravi tells him to stay out of trouble. Davinder overhears Amy and her father, Jack Branning, arguing over the size of her shorts and approaches her, telling Amy that her shorts are sick, and Amy asks who he is, and Davinder introduces himself, saying his mates call him Nugget. Denzel Danes asks why they call him Nugget, and he replies by saying he’s twenty four Karat Gold. Denzel laughs but Amy is annoyed and doesn’t find it funny. Denzel then invites Amy and Davinder back to his place after going to the Minute Mart, and Denzel says Davinder’s nickname has nothing to do with twenty four karat gold, and Amy asks if he just loves eating chicken nuggets, and Davinder says that everyone likes eating nuggets, with Denzel replying “so much that they names you after one” making Amy laugh. Davinder asks if she found it funny, and Amy replies by saying Denzel made her laugh. Davinder asks Amy what her name is, and makes fun of it, calling her “Lame-y” and Denzel then takes it too far, calling her “Lay-me.” Denzel says he was just joking and they won’t call her that, and tells her to find them some glasses for their drink, and when she does Denzel takes a photo of Amy’s legs. Amy notices the boys laughing and asks what they’re doing, and Denzel says that if she’s wearing those shorts she wants people to take pictures. Denzel then shows Davinder the photo and says that Amy’s legs are hairy. Amy tells the two to shut up and delete it, and attempts to take Denzel’s phone but is unsuccessful. Denzel says they were just messing and that Amy looks good, and then invites Davinder to watch the football match. Denzel then shows Davinder the photo and says that Amy’s legs are hairy. Amy tells the two to shut up and delete it, and attempts to take Denzel’s phone but is unsuccessful. Denzel says they were just messing and that Amy looks good, and then invites Davinder to watch the football match. Denzel then posts the photo on social media, and Amy comes down to ask him to delete it, and Denzel says it was just a joke, but Amy says it’s not funny. Davinder says it got twenty likes, and Denzel says that means it’s funny. Amy politely asks Denzel to take it down, but he refuses, and Amy storms off.
Later, the boys are playing games when Chelsea Fox comes and confronts them about the picture. Davinder tells Denzel that he’s not lived with his dad for a while as he’s been in Dubai. Chelsea then come in. Chelsea greets them and Davinder asks who she is, and she replies by saying she’s someone who needs their full attention before unplugging the games console. Chelsea then says Denzel has made himself quite at home and that it’s quite nice he’s made friends as the last thing he wants to do is make enemy’s when he’s moved somewhere new, and says it applies to Davinder as well. Davinder says he’s done nothing, but Chelsea says it’s not true as Amy has said that two grubby little boys have taken an inappropriate photo of an underage school girl and blasted it all over social media. Chelsea asks Denzel if Amy asked him to take it down, and he says yes, and Chelsea forces him to delete it in front of her, telling the boys not to mess with her sister again.
On 11 August 2022, Chelsea once again confronts the boys, saying she can’t believe she has to do it again. Chelsea asks Davinder if he lives there too now before un-plugging the games console again. Denzel tells Chelsea he deleted it. And Chelsea asks what he did afterwards and Denzel says nothing, and Chelsea says that’s the issue. Saying that Denzel should know that she meant he should say sorry too. Denzel asks why he should, and Chelsea says there’s a few reasons. Firstly, it’s the right thing to do, secondly, because it will make Amy feel better and thirdly because she’s telling him to. Davinder tells Chelsea to listen, but before he can say anything chelsea shoots him down, reminding Denzel that just because he deleted the photo it can still be out there. Denzel says they never meant to hurt her and Chelsea tells them to say they’re sorry, today. The boys both later apologise to Amy.
On 16 August 2022, Ravi takes Davinder to Walford East for a burger. When the burger is brought out, Davinder is shocked at the size of it. Davinder then asks about his grandfather, saying he gets angry when Davinder eats junk food, and Ravi says that he isn’t here now, and then reveals he owns the restaurant now. Davinder then asks if he can add chicken nuggets to the menu, and Ravi says he’ll do anything for Davinder.
On 22 August 2022, Lily, Denzel, Amy and Davinder meet up and plan to do something. The four don’t have any money, so Amy asks Denise for some money. At the salon, Lily notices some drugs Jada Lennox had dropped after being given them by Stuart Highway after he decided he didn’t need them, and Lily steals them while Denise isn’t looking. The four then go up to Walford allotments and discuss taking them, with Amy being the only one brave enough. Amy takes half of a pill and is ok at first, but she later collapses and the others call an ambulance with Jack arriving at the allotments as she does. Martin is also present at the time and accuses Denzel of providing the drugs, but Lily doesn’t correct him. At the hospital, Jack asks Amy who gave her the drugs, saying Martin said it was Denzel. Amy says she doesn’t remember to keep Denzel safe.
On 6 September 2022, Davinder is in class with Denzel,Amy and Esme when Davinder and Denzel start mocking her sign language she is using to communicate with her new teaching assistant, Frankie Lewis. Frankie notices this, and speaks to them after class, where Amy apologises but the boys remain silent. Frankie then drops her books, with Denzel and Davinder laughing with Davinder taking photos of Frankie bending down. Amy tries to get them to stop, but they don’t listen. Esme later shows Frankie the photos that Davinder has posted, calling her lots of names, such as a sket. On 14 September 2022, Frankie sees Davinder and Denzel touching Amy inappropriately on her bottom. The next day, Frankie calls Davinder and Denzel into Mr Morden’s office, telling the two she saw them touching Amy, telling them how wrong it is, saying they have no idea about how scary it feels to just walk down the street. The two apologise, and when they leave Frankie asks Denzel if he likes Amy, saying that he should start being himself around her. On 20 September 2022, Davinder and Tommy Moon tease Amy by throwing leaves at her on the way to school. Denzel sees this, and tells the two to leave her again. Davinder says that he’s just worried about what Frankie said and that it doesn’t matter as she’s just a teacher.
On 20 September 2022, Davinder and Tommy Moon throw leaves at Amy. Denzel tells them to stop, but Davinder says if he’s worried about what Frankie said, it doesn’t matter as she’s just a teacher. Denzel later meets up with Amy and giver her some sweets he saw her buying, Amy asks why he got them, and Denzel says it’s to say sorry, and the two share a smile, with Davinder watching on. Davinder later catches up with Denzel, asking what he was doing earlier. Denzel lies, saying he was at the park, and Davinder calls him out on his lie, saying he saw him with Amy and asking if he fancies her. Denzel panics, saying he doesn’t fancy her, calling her a dirty little sket and storming off. The three’s dad later get a call from the school, saying there was a fight that could lead to expulsion. It’s revealed that Amy tore Davinder’s jacket after he grabbed her bag. The two get into an argument in the corridor of the school, and Denzel tries to calm it down, just as the parents arrive. The six go into the office and have a meeting with a teacher, during which Denzel takes the blame to protect Amy and Davinder from expulsion. Denzel says that hun and Davinder had an argument and that Amy’s bag was damaged as the two knocked it over while fighting. It is then revealed Denzel and Davinder received a final warning from the school after Davinder has a go at a teacher and Denzel backs him up. After school, Ravi gets back to the flat and asks Davinder why he didn’t tell him about him being in trouble last week. Davinder says he didn’t kick off and that the teacher was making out he was thick, saying that’s what all the teachers do, saying it wasn’t anything he couldn’t handle and that Ravi handled worse, saying he’d been inside. Ravi then realises Davinder knew he wasn’t in Dubai, asking how he knows, and he says Ranveer told him. Davinder asks Ravi why he didn’t tell him, and Ravi changes the subject, asking Davinder if he wants help with the school work he’s doing. Davinder says it’s a game he’s playing and that he’s stuck on a level, and the two play the game together. Later, Davinder goes to speak to Ravi about the game they played, but he walks in on him and Suki having an argument.
The next day, Mr Morden does a home visit. he reveals he still has concerns and Ravi introduces him to Suki. Mr Morden reveals that Davinder has been verbally abusive to staff and students. Mr Morden reveals that Davinder had touched Amy’s behind and that he has to consider his future at the school. Ravi then asks Suki to leave, and she does, saying Davinder is too smart for the school. Ravi says it isn’t Davinder’s fault, but his. Ravi says he hasn’t been the best dad as he was inside, saying he didn’t want Davinder to know, but Ranveer told him. Mr Modern days he understands, but multiple kids parents have been inside, saying that if Davinder’s behaviour doesn’t improve he’ll be excluded. Ravi then convinced Mr Morden to give him a second chance. Later when Davinder gets home from school, he tells Ravi not to disturb him as he needs to play a game, but Ravi tells him he had a visit from Mr Morden and that he had to convince him not to throw him out, saying he’s only been there for three weeks. Davinder says Ravi hasn’t cared before. Ravi says he knows he’s been a bad dad, but Davinder can’t grow up like him, and that if he gets gets kicked out school his life will go downhill. Ravi says he knows it must be hard, moving house and schools, and that he must miss his papaji (his grandfather). Davinder says it’s true, but since it’s his birthday the next day, he’ll call. Ravi says that Ranveer never did birthdays, but Davinder says he did for him, recalling that he would come downstairs to a pile of presents, music playing and Ranveer dancing like an idiot. Ravi says he never even got a happy birthday, and Davinder says he only knows what he was like with him, saying he’s give him any type of birthday cake he wanted, he even got him a Warwick castle cake after he took Davinder there, with Davinder saying it was the best day, and it was also the day he was told Ravi wasn’t going to be there for a while. Davinder asks Ravi why he hasn’t heard anything, and Ravi reassured him Ranveer will be in touch, and if he doesn’t, he’s there and he can make Davinder’s birthday the best one yet, saying that he loves him, and he needs to start behaving. Davinder begins crying, and Ravi hugs him, with Suki looking on. Ravi tells Davinder to go clean his room and that he’ll cook them nuggets for dinner.
The following day, Suki and Ravi decorate for Davinder’s birthday, just finishing as he gets in. Davinder asks if Ranveer phoned, and Ravi says no. Davinder yawns and Ravi says he needs to keep his energy up for dinner later. Davinder apologises and says that Suki was calling out in her sleep again, and Suki saying she needs to stop listening to true crime podcasts before bed. Ravi sends Davinder to the shower and to get changed. Davinder goes to the restaurant with Suki and Ravi, where Ravi says he added a Nugget burger to the menu just for him, and Davinder says he can’t order till his mates are here and that he can’t spend his birthday with a bunch of oldies. Nina, Vinny and Ash then arrive, all wishing him happy birthday. Vinny hands him a card, and Nina gives him a present from her and Ranveer, making Davinder extremely happy that Ranveer remembered. Amy and Denzel then arrive at the restaurant and Davinder takes them over to another table. The two apologises for being late saying their dads had a fight.
The next day, Denzel, Davinder and Lily meet at the shop, with Amy watching on. Davinder says that Lisa Rogers' parents have gone away, and her boyfriend Digger is there every night and the two are having sex. Denzel is shocked, and Lily says it’s only because she’s scared he’s going to dump her. After this, they notice Amy and she comes over. Davinder says that Sanj and Johnny Pearson are having sex and that Denzel needs to get to it. Denzel asks if Amy is okay, and Jack comes over, asking if they’re skiving before telling them to get on their way.
Resident history[]
| Address | Years |
|---|---|
| Unknown | prior to 2022 |
| 5A Albert Square | 2022-2023, 2023 |
| 41 Albert Square | 2023 to present |
| Flat 61, Brixton | 2023 |
Employment history[]
| Occupation | Years Active |
|---|---|
| Student at Walford High School | 2022 to present |
| Waiter at Walford East | 2023 to present |
Quotes[]
- To Ravi Gulati (First line): “Yeah. Grandpa’s got this business thing, so you're letting him after that.” (9 August 2022)