She often calls Mr Brown “Masterji” (Hindi roughly meaning “teacher” or “professor”), and her catchphrase early in the series is “gud hefening” (which is how she pronounces “good evening”). Although she needs Ali to translate for her in the first series, by series 3 she shows a marked improvement and is able to communicate in English without needing any help. When she first joins the class she barely speaks any English – she rants in Hindi when Mr Brown asks her her name, and when she finally does understand she decides to write her name on the blackboard in Urdu because she cannot write it in English. Jamila Massey as Jamila Ranjha (Series 1–3) – a stereotypical Indian housewife from Shimla. Ali’s typical catchphrases are “yes please” (in situations where he should say “yes, thank you” or “yes indeed”), “oh blimey!”, “ Squeeze me please” (which is how he pronounces “Excuse me please”), and “ jolly good“.įrançoise Pascal as Danielle Favre (1949 – )
As a Pakistani Muslim, he has a vocal and occasionally physical rivalry with Ranjeet, who is an Indian Sikh. He often misinterprets the English for a comical sense, but has a very fair command of it. Practically never seen without his Jinnah cap, he is the most vocal, honest, and hardworking of the students, with Anna being the second. He is originally from Lahore, Pakistan, although he once stated he grew up in Delhi (probably making him a Muhajir – the people who migrated from India to Pakistan after the Partition of India in 1947). and the first student to make an appearance. Tommy Godfrey as Sid (1916-1984) Mind Your Language Cast Students:ĭino Shafeek as Ali Nadim (Series 1–3) – a Pakistani initially unemployed at the beginning of the first season, who later gets a job as a door to door salesman.