Preeya Kalidas supports arranged marriage

Friday, 8 May 2009

'EastEnders' newcomer Preeya Kalidas supports arranged marriages.

The actress - who made her debut on the BBC soap last night (07.05.09) playing Amira Shah, the girlfriend of Syed Masood - insists asking your family to find you a potential partner is a positive thing.

She said: "I know people from older generations who were 12 when their marriages were arranged and they had no choice in the matter.

"Nowadays it is more of an introduction. Families introduce you to a possible suitor, which I don't think is a bad thing. My brother was introduced to his wife through family."

Despite her insistence she trusts her family to pick her the perfect man, the 26-year-old actress is yet to find love.

She explained: "No-one has introduced me to anyone yet! My family are cool and they know my career is really important to me. I wouldn't be averse to it. If they said, 'Look, there is a good man to meet,' I'd say, 'OK.'

"It is the same as a friend who says, 'Look I know this guy, why don't I set you up?' It is like internet dating but we have been doing it for years."

Preeya admits it was a dream come true when she landed her role on 'EastEnders' and got to met show veterans Barbara Windsor, who plays Peggy Mitchell, and June Brown, who stars as Dot Cotton.

She said: "I went to introduce myself to Dot in make-up. She looked at the monitor which was showing a scene with Syed. Then she looked at me and said, 'It's getting' like b*****n' 'Hollyoaks' round here!' She is hilarious."