Throwback Thursday: Casting Mystery of Banita Sandhu

First posted on Tumbler 10 April 2023

Update:  Last week a couple of media articles came out about Banita Sandhu where she was described as a Bridgerton star, further, one of the articles referred to her role as 'pivotal'.  These articles have again got fans speculating on her role in season 3.  

Last year the casting for three new Original Characters was announced by the Bridgerton official account, we have very little information to go on who they are and how they fit in to the show, but it is not those three that have got some parts of the fandom excited, but rather the (unannounced) casting of Banita Sands. 

According to Banita's agent website she is playing a character called Sita Malhorta, and is listed as a recurring character in Season 3.  As fans speculate on who Sita Malhorta may be, and wonder why she was not announced with the other new original characters, two main theories have emerged. 

1. Sita Malhorta is a code name for Sophia Maria, the names of book character Sophie Beckett. If this is the case then this means the viewers will be introduced to Sophie in S3 and Benedict will finally have his season in Season 4.
2. Sita Malhorta is Kate's mother, and she will appear in some form of flashback or dream sequence. If this is who the character is then that will mean we would be getting more than one flashback / dream sequence of Kate and her mother as Banita is listed as recurring and will likely be in multiple episodes. This will please fans of Kate due to the lack of attention many feel her character received during her own season.

There are two further theories I have seen, however, these do not appear to be as popular as the first two. 

1. Sita Malhorta will be the nanny for baby Edmund. I find this theory unlikely due to her being credited with a first name and surname. In the credits for the show, with the exception of a select few, none of the staff for any of the houses are credited with names, even ones that have speaking roles (such as footman John). So the fact that Banita is credited with a name, and listed as a recurring character I do not think she will be domestic staff, unless she is Sophie.
2. The final theory is that she is a cousin of Kate's. I am not sure where this idea came from, except the fact that Banita is Indian. I also don't see a reason for a cousin of Kate's to be present in London during the season for multiple seasons, this will again give Kate a storyline centred around a family member as opposed to her having a storyline that is focussed on her and her growth as a character.

My personal view is that one of the first two theories are the most likely.  

If she is Kate's mother, I can see an arc with Kate perhaps having dreams of her mother, this can be as a result of her becoming pregnant, or just being anxious in her new role.  Whilst it will be unusual for such a storyline to go over multiple episodes, it isn't unheard of as in Season 1 Simon's flashbacks lasted more than one episode.  

However, I think the most likely of these theories is that she could be Sophie, but her character (for S3 anyway) will be called Sita Malhorta.  Rather than it being a codename from the production, I think the name will be a pseudonym Sophie uses in order to remain 'hidden' and the reveal of her real name will potentially be in the final episode.  This could be a good tactic for the show to use, essentially hiding Sophie in plain sight of the viewers.  For this to work however, she will need to meet Benedict in a different way to how she does in the books, in order to attempt to throw the viewers off the scent.  Though with many in the fandom thinking she will be Sophie maybe this subterfuge will no longer work. 

Of course, with all my theories, I could be completely wrong, and she is just another debutante who appears at a few balls, and has no connection to any of the Bridgertons at all.  

I would be interested in your view.