Yusef Khan

Yusef Khan
Ace Bhatti as Yusef Khan (2011)
EastEnders character
Portrayed by	Ace Bhatti
Duration	2010–2011
First appearance	Episode 4109 23 November 2010
Last appearance	Episode 4344 26 December 2011
Introduced by	Bryan Kirkwood
Classification	Former; regular
Profile
Occupation	General practitioner
Wife Zainab Masood (backstory, 2011) Daughters Afia Khan First cousins Tariq

Yusef Khan M.D. is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Ace Bhatti. Yusef is the father of Afia Khan (Meryl Fernandes) and former husband of Zainab Masood (Nina Wadia). He appears from 23 November 2010. Described as strong-willed, he arrives as Walford's new general practitioner. He departed on 26 December 2011, following the end of his domestic abuse storyline with his wife Zainab Masood (Nina Wadia). Bhatti was voted "Best Newcomer" at the TV Quick awards and for "Best Storyline" for destroying the Masoods.

Yusef married Zainab Masood (Nina Wadia) in an arranged marriage in Pakistan at the age of 17. Zainab brought shame upon their respective families when she had an affair with Masood Ahmed (Nitin Ganatra). As punishment, Yusef set Zainab on fire, though he claimed it to be his family's doing and that he tried to save her. Masood rescued Zainab and she divorced Yusef to marry Masood, moving with him to the UK. Yusef later remarried and had a daughter, Afia (Meryl Fernandes).

Yusef first appears when Afia introduces him to her boyfriend Tamwar Masood (Himesh Patel). Tamwar feels he is not good enough for Afia in Yusef's eyes as he is from a poor background, but Yusef says that does not matter and approves of Tamwar. After Tamwar mentions his mother Zainab Masood's name, Yusef visits the Masood home and finds the door open. When Zainab sees him, she screams and orders him out. It is revealed they were husband and wife from an arranged marriage when Yusef was 17, and Yusef's family had poured oil on her and set her on fire. Yusef says it was his family, not him, and he attempted to save her, revealing bad scarring on his body. Tamwar's father Masood Ahmed, Tamwar and Afia return home, and Masood attacks Yusef, punching him twice. After Yusef returns, Tamwar asks Masood to speak to Yusef, and when he visits, he finds out Tamwar and Afia are still seeing each other. He gives his blessing for them to be married.