Himesh Patel says soap star perception is 'changing'

British-Indian actor Himesh Patel says movie business has gradually warmed up to telly stars.

The "EastEnders" star, who is the latest soap actor to head to the movies with "Yesterday", said he did not feel looked down upon while working on the Danny Boyle directorial.

"I didn't feel it when I was working on ('Yesterday'). And, you know, whether it means that I'm scrutinised more when it does come out, obviously I don't know. I don't know whether to expect that or not. But the fact that I'm even in this position is a step that I don't think has happened. Well, it's been happening slowly.

"There's friends of mine who have been doing really great work since leaving soaps. It's something that I think has been changing. I'm glad that, you know, someone like me, who did nine years on a soap, can now go on and do something like this. That's kind of a step in the right direction, I think," Patel told DigitalSpy.

The 28-year-old actor, who played Tamwar Masood on the BBC soap opera, said though he has turned a new leaf in his career, he would "never say never" to the small screen.

"I've not been asked. But at the moment, I think life's taking a different direction. But you never say never," he said.

In "Yesterday", Patel plays a young musician who one day discovers that the world has forgotten The Beatles and he is the only one to remember their songs.