“Does Manpreet like Rishi? That’s the million-dollar question!”
AS THE MYSTERY SURROUNDING MANPREET DEEPENS, ACTRESS REBECCA SARKER ADMITS HER CHARACTER’S SECRETS WON’T STAY THAT WAY MUCH LONGER…
Viewers are probably going to be surprised,” claims Rebecca Sarker, as she talks to us about her mysterious Dales alter ego, Manpreet. “Over the next few weeks, Manpreet is set to be laid bare, and there are some quite emotional scenes in store. She’s proved herself a competent liar, although it’s only a matter of time before she’s found out…”
Manpreet first arrived in Emmerdale in July last year, and with so much drama in store, it’s no wonder that Rebecca – who previously starred in Corrie as Dev’s cousin Nita Desai – is loving her time in the village.
“I love the Dales!” she beams. “I remember the drive up on my first bit of filming out on the village set, and it was stunning. So beautiful – all the red kites, the herds of deer, the rolling hills… It’s gorgeous, and I’m loving being able to spend more time here.”
But for how much longer can Manpreet can keep boyfriend Rishi in the dark? He thought he’d hit the jackpot when the couple got together, although his son Jai just can’t help fearing the worst. In recent weeks, it’s transpired that the local GP isn’t quite who she seems, and is hiding her serious money troubles. So while Rishi remains oblivious, is Jai right to assume that Manpreet will turn out to be the last thing the doctor ordered for his smitten dad?
“Alarm bells are ringing all over the place,” concedes Rebecca. “But Jai is the only one hearing them at the moment – and Manpreet has begged him not to tell Rishi. Although a credit card being declined can happen to anyone, her car being repossessed was such an inauspicious thing to happen, particularly to a well-paid GP.
“At face value, you’d never think Manpreet is short of money – she dresses well and she likes nice things,” continues the star. “However, for Jai, things aren’t really adding up, and he fears that she’s masking a deeper problem…”
With more revelations set to come about her financial issues, we can’t help but worry for Rishi, who has fallen hook, line and sinker for his new love. It looks as if the scales are about to fall from his eyes this week, though, as he turns up at her surgery planning a romantic surprise. When she’s nowhere to be found, he jumps to his own conclusions – but there are yet more unpleasant shocks ahead.
“When Manpreet’s not at the surgery, Rishi immediately thinks she’s having an affair,” sighs Rebecca. “She’s away doing something else – but what? It’s not long afterwards that Laurel catches Manpreet trying to take the company credit card from the factory, which is another huge red flag. But when Jai confronts her about it, I don’t think viewers will be expecting what she tells him.”
Determined to nip Manpreet’s strange behaviour in the bud, Jai is set to take drastic action to protect his poor dad. And just like Jai, we won’t be happy if it transpires that Manpreet’s only with Rishi to get her hands on his money! But is she that ruthless?
“Does Manpreet genuinely like Rishi? That’s the million-dollar question!” teases Rebecca. “I suppose it’s up to the viewers to reach their own conclusions about her actions – but remember that she’s been the victim of a controlling ex-husband, and even the best of people don’t tend to escape unscathed from such experiences.
“I’d love to see Rishi and Manpreet give it a real go, though. It’s an absolute joy working with Bhasker [Patel, aka
Rishi], so I want to stay in my job!”
You’d never think that Manpreet has money problems”