EastEnders actress dating controversial Love Island star as pair beam in snaps
EastEnders star Rukku Nahar has appeared to confirm her romance with ex-Love Islander Michael Griffiths. The actress and reality TV personality attended the premiere Venom: The Last Dance at the BFI IMAX in London together, with the couple appearing on the red carpet together.
Rukku and Michael looked loved-up as they wrapped their arms round one another and posed for photographs at the star-studded event. Rukku, 28, looked stunning in a green patterned gown featuring mesh sleeves and a cut out across the chest, while Michael, 33, cut a stylish figure in black baggy trousers and a grey knitted cardigan, paired with a thick gold chain.
It marks the pair’s first red carpet appearance together. Neither Rukku nor Michael had previously confirmed they are dating, with the pair not sharing each other on their social media profiles. However, Michael has left flirty comments under some of Rukku’s Instagram posts over recent months.
Michael is famed for starring on ITV2’s Love Island in 2019. He was part of one of the dating show’s most memorable love triangles, after he brutally dumped partner Amber Gill to pursue bombshell Joanna Chimonides. His and Joanna’s romance last a few months outside of the villa but ultimately came to an end.
The dating show opened up new opportunities for firefighter Michael and in 2020 he appeared on MTV’s Celebrity Ex On The Beach. He sparked up a connection with fellow ex-Islander Ellie Brown on the reality show, but their whirlwind romance did not continue in the real world.
Michael has since kept a low profile, having been focusing on his fitness business rather than showbiz work. He is the founder and lead coach at Hustle As One, an online training platform. Michael has also began working as a sports host, interviewing people such as Anthony Joshua.
Elsewhere, Rukku is best-known for portraying Habiba Ahmed – a distant relative of the Masood family – in BBC’s EastEnders. She took up the role in 2019 and was introduced alongside sister Iqra (Priya Davdra). However, Rukku’s time on the soap came to a sudden end in October 2020 when her character’s final scenes aired without warning.
After her EastEnders exit, Rukku appeared in two episodes of the BBC iPlayer series Flatmates, as well as featuring in an episode of the ITV series The Good Karma Hospital. Fans will also recognise Rukku from Hollyoaks, in which she played Asha Kaur, as well as her roles in Casualty, Doctors and Wolfblood.
