Then And Now: See What The Cast Of "Bend It Like Beckham'" Is Up To Twenty Years Later

Released in 2002, Bend It Like Beckham was unlike anything else we had previously seen. And we loved it!

Stephanie

• Published in Film & TV
• May 7, 2022

If you were a teen in the 90s, you undoubtedly would have been a fan of the film Bend It Like Beckham. Directed by Gurinder Chadha, the film became an instant hit by focusing on the challenges faced by female athletes and cultural differences.

Released in 2002, Bend It Like Beckham was unlike anything else we had previously seen. And we loved it!

The film centered around Jess, an aspiring football player, faced with strict regulations enforced by her traditional Indian family. It highlighted themes of young love, culture, sexism, and competitive sports.

Jess had to bend the rules in order to follow her dreams, and it was a joy to witness. Despite her parents' wishes for her to settle down, learn to cook, and find "a nice Indian boy," Jess had other ideas.

The film resonated with us because we understood how it felt to be left out. We knew the importance of fitting in and finding ourselves as teens.

Besides the football and hilarity of Jess's overbearing relatives, there was also a coach-player romance. In fact, it was more like a love triangle between Jess, her best friend, and their handsome coach, played by Jonathan Rhys Meyers, who, let's face it, we all had a crush on.

Comedy, drama, a love triangle, culture - what more could we have asked for?

Plus, there was also David Beckham!

Believe it or not, Bend It Like Beckham is 20 years old!

So, in honor of its lasting impact, we thought it would be fun to see what the cast has been up to since 2002!

Parminder Nagra as Jesminder "Jess" Kaur Bhamra Then

Bend It Like Beckham was just the beginning of Parminder Nagra's career. For her role as Jess, Parminder had to undertake an intensive training course for 10 weeks to learn how to play football for the film.

Parminder Nagra Now

After bending it like Beckham, Parminder Nagra starred in Ella Enchanted, Alcatraz, The Blacklist, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Fortitude, 13 Reasons Why and Bird Box. Not to mention her role as Dr. Neela Rasgotra in ER which lasted for six years.

Keira Knightley as Juliette "Jules" Paxton Then

When Bend It Like Beckham was released, it's fair to say that most of us had never heard of Keira Knightley. Her role as Jules was undeniably her big break into Hollywood.

Keira Knightley Now

Since 2002, Keira has starred in blockbusters such as Pirates of the Caribbean, Atonement, Love Actually, and The Imitation Game. She has also won three Golden Globes.

In 2018, Keira was awarded an OBE (Most Excellent Order of the British Empire). Keira will soon be seen in her latest film, The Boston Strangler, set to be released later this year.

Archie Panjabi as "Pinky" Kaur Bhamra Then

Who didn't love Archie in Bend It Like Beckham? She was the classic snobby, entitled older sister, and we loved every minute of her performance!

Archie Panjabi Now

Since starring in Bend It Like Beckham, Archie has starred in films such as Departure, A Mighty Heart, and Blindspot. Perhaps her most notable role has been playing Kalinda Sharma in The Good Wife.

Archie was also the first-ever Asian actor to win an Emmy. How incredible is that?

Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Joe Then

Okay, who didn't have a crush on this guy? He was the adorable coach with the baby blue eyes and the sexy British accent.

We all loved him, and we couldn't keep our eyes off him in Bend It Like Beckham. He was such a gentleman, after all.

Jonathan Rhys Meyers Now

Jonathan's career only got more successful after Bend It Like Beckham. He starred in films such as Match Point, Dracula, and Vikings.

Jonathan also won three Golden Globes. One for his role in Elvis and the other two for The Tudors.

Shaznay Lewis as Marlena "Mel" Goines Then

We first knew Shaznay for being one of the lead singers in All Saints. But she successfully broke through into acting with her role in Bend It Like Beckham.

Shaznay Lewis Now

Since Bend It Like Beckham, Shaznay has focused on her singing career. All Saints reunited in 2014, and since then, they have released two albums and supported the Backstreet Boys on tour.

Anupam Kher as Mohaan Singh Bhamra Then

Anupam has been famous in the Bollywood film world for many years. But Bend It Like Beckham brought him to the attention of the rest of the world!

Anupam Kher Now

Since Bend It Like Beckham, Anupam has appeared in more than 500 films! You may have seen him in Silver Linings Playbook, New Amsterdam, or ER.

Shaheen Khan as Mrs. "Sukhi" Kaur Bhamra Then

She was the controlling mother who drove us all nuts. And Shaheen played the role perfectly!

Shaheen Khan Now

Since Bend It Like Beckham, Shaheen has appeared in several productions. You may have seen her in Casualty, Apple Tree House, or Mogul Mowgli.

Frank Harper as Alan Paxton Then

Alan was the goofy dad we all loved to make fun of. And Frank played the role to a tee!

Frank Harper Now

Since then, Frank has appeared in several British TV shows and films. You may have seen him in Doctors, Nemesis, or Waking The Dead.

Juliet Stevenson as Paula Paxton Then

Julie was hilarious in Bend It Like Beckham. She played Jules's awkward, concerned, and embarrassing mother, and we loved her!

Juliet Stevenson Now

Since then, Julie has continued acting on screen as well as on stage. She starred in Being Julia, Accused, Infamous, and Mona Lisa Smile.

Ameet Chana as Tony Then

Ameet's role in Bend It Like Beckham was somewhat controversial for its time. He was Jess's gay cousin, and we all fell in love with him for his candor.

Ameet Chana Now

Since then, Ameet's most notable role has been as Adi Ferreira in EastEnders. He has also hosted radio shows on the BBC Asian Network.

David Beckham Then

And, how could we leave out David Beckham himself? Without David, there never would have been Bend It Like Beckham.

Technically, David didn't appear in the film; however, his presence was strong throughout the entire movie. Plus, there were many posters of him, so we figure that counts.

David Beckham Now

Obviously, we all know David for his football career. He has appeared in three World Cups and two UEFA European tournaments.

David has since retired; however, he is the co-owner and president of Inter Miami CF and co-owner of Salford City.

So, there you have it. The cast of Bend It Like Beckham 20 years later!

Can you believe it's been two decades since the film's release? It's crazy how time flies.

But films like this will always be popular no matter how many years pass. It's just as enjoyable to watch now as it was in 2002.

What's your favorite Bend It Like Beckham moment? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below.

Stephanie