Shabnam Kazemi (also Masood) is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Zahra Ahmadi from 2007 to 2008, and by Rakhee Thakrar from 2014 to 2016. Shabnam's first appearance was on 17 July 2007. On 8 September 2008, it was reported that Zahra Ahmadi had quit the show, as her character was not given enough "meaty storylines". Ahmadi made her final appearance as Shabnam on 24 October 2008. Thakrar took over the role on 1 December 2013, and Shabnam returned on screen on 13 January 2014. Thakrar quit her role as Shabnam after two years being on the show and made an unannounced departure on 5 February 2016.