Born in London, Panthaki is best known for the roles he played on BBC soap opera EastEnders as Ronny Ferreira (2003–2005) and as Hassan B the nemesis to Sacha Baron Cohen's Ali G in Ali G Indahouse. He also appeared in the British films 28 Days Later, Rehab, Tube Tales, Provoked, Interview with a Hitman, It's a Wonderful Afterlife and the 2006 cult film Kidulthood which he also produced. In 2006 he was nominated for "Best Supporting Actor in a Play" at the TMA Theatre Awards for his role in Gladiator Games. Later that year he set up the London-based production company Urban Way.