Nikhil Sharma (Rik Makarem)

[Telly Watcher]

Spoilers last year said Nikhil was only around for 2-3 months, gone by around Feb 2016. Actor Rik Makarem has done theatre stuff recently.

What I can't really get right now is why Nikhil has been saying in the latest Emmerdale episodes that he's only going to his Canadian job for a few weeks or so? Nikhil's business empire seems to be based in Canada but extends worldwide? The whole Nikhil storyline for him right now in Emmerdale village seems completely barmy to me right now. Just why would this worldwide business "big" guy return like this to our favourite Yorkshire village and try to get it on with his brother's ex-girlfriend?

Do the latest Emmerdale episodes mean that the Nikhil character has an open plan option as a guest or permanent member of ED after a few weeks time?

I note that character Jai has been voted on the latest DS member opinion poll to be the least (out of 75 ED characters!) favourite for 2016. Hurrah! Sense really and finally prevails somewhere in this world of ours! haha!

[Telly Watcher]

Emmerdale star Rik Makarem has admitted that it took him a while to consider whether returning to the show was the right choice.

The actor's second stint with the ITV soap is drawing to a close and tonight's episode of the soap will see his character Nikhil Sharma make a big decision about his future with Leyla, following Jai's return.

Makarem​ returned to the show last autumn after two years away, but always made it clear that it was only ever on a temporary basis.

Speaking on This Morning today (February 19), Makarem revealed that he was initially unsure over whether to come back at all.

"​It took a couple of months to really consider whether it was the right choice," he said.


© ITV
Nikhil and Leyla celebrate their engagement

"When you are stepping back into old shoes, you want to add something to it and bring more layers into the mix. Kate Oates's vision was very appealing and it felt like a victory to go back and reignite the character.

"I did propose to Kate at the time that it was the right thing to do a short stint. It was only a short term visit to offer something new with my character and to whip up some storylines for other interesting characters.

"Part of my decision for not staying with the show on a permanent basis was because I decided that 2016 really has to be the year where I get the music and songs that I am writing in front of the correct A&R people."

Dramatic scenes in tonight's episode will see Nikhil have a furious fight with Jai as the pair come to blows over Leyla. The events will then prompt Nikhil to head back to Canada for good.


© ITV
Jai and Nikhil fight

Discussing the lead-up to Nikhil's exit, Makarem said: "Jai's return triggers Nikhil's paranoia.

"Nikhil being back in the village was a surprise to everyone, including me as an actor. He has enjoyed this whirlwind romance and reconnecting with his friends and family with a new sense of gravity from his time away.

"He is head over heels for this girl but there are a few little signs saying it isn't going to be right."

By Sophie Dainty, Digital Spy
http://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/emme...urn-was-right/

TW:
I really don't understand why someone so well-travelled and worldwise as Nikhil would want to settle for Emmerdale's Leyla? Particularly when Leyla is Jai's ex-girlfriend? How odd is that [maybe just another barmy Emmerdale KO plot-device?]?

[Perdita]

Emmerdale star Rik Makarem has admitted that it took him a while to consider whether returning to the show was the right choice.

The actor's second stint with the ITV soap is drawing to a close and tonight's episode of the soap will see his character Nikhil Sharma make a big decision about his future with Leyla, following Jai's return.

Makarem​ returned to the show last autumn after two years away, but always made it clear that it was only ever on a temporary basis.

Speaking on This Morning today (February 19), Makarem revealed that he was initially unsure over whether to come back at all.

"​It took a couple of months to really consider whether it was the right choice," he said.

"When you are stepping back into old shoes, you want to add something to it and bring more layers into the mix. Kate Oates's vision was very appealing and it felt like a victory to go back and reignite the character.

"I did propose to Kate at the time that it was the right thing to do a short stint. It was only a short term visit to offer something new with my character and to whip up some storylines for other interesting characters.

"Part of my decision for not staying with the show on a permanent basis was because I decided that 2016 really has to be the year where I get the music and songs that I am writing in front of the correct A&R people."

Dramatic scenes in tonight's episode will see Nikhil have a furious fight with Jai as the pair come to blows over Leyla. The events will then prompt Nikhil to head back to Canada for good.

Discussing the lead-up to Nikhil's exit, Makarem said: "Jai's return triggers Nikhil's paranoia.

"Nikhil being back in the village was a surprise to everyone, including me as an actor. He has enjoyed this whirlwind romance and reconnecting with his friends and family with a new sense of gravity from his time away.

"He is head over heels for this girl but there are a few little signs saying it isn't going to be right."

[Telly Watcher]

Emmerdale star Rik Makarem is already leaving soap to focus on music career

The actor who only just returned back to the show last autumn has revealed his dreams to write music for pop stars like Olly Murs and Adele

Emmerdale star Rik Makarem has revealed his plans to take time out from the soap despite only just returning late last year.

The actor played Nikhil Sharma in the soap who fled to Canada in 2013 following the tragic death of his wife Gennie Walker (Sian Reese-Williams).

He made a surprise return but now says he's ready to leave again to focus on his song-writing career: "I just decided that 2016 really has to be the year that the songs that I write, and music that I write, I need to get them in front of the correct A&R people."

Rik also said both Olly Murs and Sam Smith were at the top of his wishlist of pop stars to write music for and joked with Ruth and Rylan: "Anybody got their numbers?"

In tonight's episode of the soap, Rik's character Nikhil wants to leave the Dales with his fiancee Leyla Harding (Roxy Shahidi), but his brother Jai (Chris Bisson) is in love with her and doesn't want them to go.

The prospect of them leaving is a step too far for Jai and he ends up in a fight with Nikhil who taunts his brother in scenes set to air tonight: "You think it's you that she wants? Can't wait for me to go so you can pounce?"

Nikhil punches his brother square in the face before Jai returns the jab and their father is forced to separate them.

Rik had to explain to Ruth and Rylan that it was all a show fight for the cameras with no actual contact being made: "I was quite proud of that one," Rik said, "It's more intricate than you think, it takes about an hour and a half before it gets working right.

"I didn't hit Chris Bisson no," he laughed as he showed off his moves before teasing viewers about the explosive scenes.

By Natalie Corner, Daily Mirror
http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/e...lready-7401785

[Perdita]

Bye Nikhil, was good to see you again, shame it was not for longer

[Dalesfan]

Was Nice to have him for a little bit. thought the Leyla stuff was pointless though

[lizann]

Was Nice to have him for a little bit. thought the Leyla stuff was pointless though

putting him with leyla was pointless in the end even though they worked well together and were funny

[lizann]

Was Nice to have him for a little bit. thought the Leyla stuff was pointless though

putting him with leyla was pointless in the end even though they worked well together and were funny

[Perdita]

putting him with leyla was pointless in the end even though they worked well together and were funny

I know we have a lot of one parent families because actors decide to do something else and they are entitled to do so, of course, even if it causes problems for what might have been a very happy family unit. I was aware that Rik was not intending to be around for long and just for once I am glad that they showed that maybe Leyla was not ready yet for marriage to him and that Nikhil left before they got married etc ... though I am gutted ...

[tammyy2j]

I really liked him with Leyla but found his exit badly written

I do hope he returns again