Harvey Virdi starred as Dr Misbah Maalik in popular Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks between May 2017 and June 2020.
It was soon revealed the character’s exit was a temporary one, and she made her return in September the same year.
But before then, the British-Indian actress had been in a string of on-screen and stage roles.
Her theatre credits include The Borrowers, Twelfth Night and Romeo & Juliet, and she’s appeared in films like Bend It Like Beckham, Thunderbirds and Bride and Prejudice.
Harvey has also starred in countless TV shows, including The Kumars at No. 42, Doctors and Holby City.
But perhaps her most famous role was on beloved ITV soap Coronation Street in 2008, when her character caused quite the stir.
Daily Star takes a look inside the explosive Corrie role.
First steps on the cobbles
(Image: Channel4)
Retired Bollywood star Nina Mandal first appeared on Coronation Street in July 2008.
She was wife to new character Prem Mandal, a successful floor-cleaning business owner played by Madhav Sharma, who’d hit the cobbles just a couple of weeks before.
But by the time Nina had joined her hubby in Weatherfield, she was clearly no longer in the throes of marital bliss.
And what a tangled web she wove.
Nina let her eyes wander, starting to flirt with Prem’s new pal Dev Alahan (Jimmi Harkishin).
On account of her glam career in the Indian film industry, he’d idolised Nina in his youth.
The next day, Nina asked Dev round to their house for a meal along with the couple’s old accountant pal Lisa.
Dev accepted, but what a mistake that turned out to be.
The sordid affair
(Image: ITV)
During the dinner, an oblivious Prem and Lisa left the pair by themselves, giving Nina the chance to propose a steamy affair.
Dev was gobsmacked at the suggestion, and spurned his pal’s wife’s advances, deciding instead to go on a date with knockout Lisa.
However, after taking a walk in the park with the idea of a racy liaison with a former Bollywood star, it wasn’t long before he caved, ending things with Lisa.
With Dev finally on board, Nina took the reins and ordered her new lover to book a sexy weekend away
Guilt takes over
(Image: ITV)
Their hanky-panky went on for a while, but Dev’s conscience got the better of him and he tried to call it a day.
Nina was left raging at the attempted rejection and set about blackmailing a terrified Dev, who let his mistress have her way before finally breaking it off.
Dev later met Prem and Nina’s gorgeous daughter Tara (Eyesha Dharker), and spotting a budding romance, Nina warned the corner shop owner off in no uncertain terms
Clueless Prem, however, saw Dev as a man of integrity and honour, and gave Dev the green light to date his daughter.
Keeping it in the family
The pair started seeing each other, and when Nina caught them together at his flat, she was forced to crack out her extortion handbook once more.
Desperate to put a stop to Nina’s threats of revealing the sordid affair to Prem, Dev beat her to it and confessed to everything.
Prem kicked Dev out of his home, vowing to have nothing more to do with him, and Dev agreed to split with Tara without telling her the real reason.
Cut to November that year, which saw Dev and Tara get back together.
Dev pleaded with Prem not to tell his daughter about the affair, and he reluctantly agreed for the sake of Tara’s happiness.
So long Nina
(Image: BBC)
In a twist, Dev then had to comfort Tara when she discovered that her mum had been involved with her ex-boyfriend (a different one).
Cut out of her daughter’s life, a desperate Nina begged Dev to keep their past relationship a secret.
Dev promised to keep his mouth shut, but his resentful daughter, who was in on the affair, chose to spill the beans just a few days later.
Both Prem and Nina waved goodbye to Corrie that same month and never returned, while tara stayed until the following year.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
