‘She’s like a dog with a bone’
Fresh, relevant and thought-provoking, DI Ray is a four-part drama written by Line of Duty actress and screenwriter Maya Sondhi and produced by Jed Mercurio’s HTM Television. Set in Birmingham, DI Ray introduces us to Leicester-born Rachita Ray (Parminder Nagra, Bend It Like Beckham, Intergalactic), a police officer who takes on a case that forces her to confront a lifelong personal conflict between her British identity and her South Asian heritage.
Rachita achieves the promotion she’s been waiting for when she’s asked to join a homicide investigation. However, on her first day she’s told the murder to which she’s been assigned is a ‘Culturally Specific Homicide.’ Rachita’s heart sinks – she suspects she’s a ‘token appointment’, chosen for her ethnicity rather than her ability.
Never one to shy away from a challenge, Rachita sticks to the case, determined to both find the killer and call out the obvious biases her colleagues are bringing to the investigation. And it’s far from easy. The case isn’t a run-of-the-mill murder; it involves delving deep into the dangerous world of organised crime.
Rachita is more than up for the task, but what she didn’t count on is what this case stirs up inside her; the realisation that she’s been burying a personal identity crisis her whole life.
Screenwriter Maya Sondhi commented: “This is a project which is deeply personal for me as a British Asian Brummie woman. It’s only in the past 10 years or so I’ve really been able to truly embrace my heritage. So much of this show is my story and in telling it honestly, I hope others from all different backgrounds will relate.”
DI Ray is a gripping four-part series that tracks a compelling murder investigation whilst exploring the emotive subject of racism in the workplace. It asks difficult questions about what it’s like to be British but feel ‘other’. And it does so whilst sending viewers on a thrilling ride through the murky underworld of Birmingham and beyond. The series also stars Gemma Whelan and Jamie Bamber.
We caught up with star Parminder Nagra.
What initially appealed to you about this show?
I think just hearing that Jed Mercurio was attached to it! I’ve been a huge fan of his for a long time. And then obviously when I discovered Maya was writing it, I knew it was going to be of good pedigree. I live in LA now and it’s not always easy for me to make decisions about being away from home, but I just felt like this project ticked enough of the right boxes for me. I didn’t quite realise how much hard work it would be – I was in almost every single scene, but I was in good hands.
How would you describe Rachita?
She’s definitely strong – she wouldn’t be able to do half the things she does, or get where she is in her career, without tenacity. I think she’s conflicted about her own identity and the piece raises a lot of questions about what happens in the workplace, and whether she’s hired for a case that’s culturally specific or if she’s hired because of her ability, that’s a constant question in her mind. But as a detective she’s just persistent and hard-working, she doesn’t stop. She’s like a dog with a bone and she’ll keep asking questions to get to where she needs to be – she’s like a female Columbo in a green coat!
How would you describe her home life?
She’s happy, she’s got lovely Jamie Bamber at home! There’s an amazing rapport with her partner, they met coming up through the police ranks and they have a lot in common. There’s something about her that doesn’t want to leap into having a house together – I don’t know whether it’s because she feels it would mean the loss of her own identity or whether it’s about her sense of being independent, but they do get to a crossroads. A wrench is thrown into the middle of all of this that makes her question what she wants and things unravel. It’s nice that she has a happy home life. It’s funny because I
re-watched Prime Suspect recently and Jane Tennison went through one relationship after another, didn’t eat much and drank a lot of whiskey. Rachita’s life is very different, she’s got a lovely house and all the things that you would want out of a relationship.
Rachita suspects she has only been promoted because of tokenism. How does she cope with that?
It obviously makes her heart sink, wondering if that’s the reason she got hired, but this is still what she does for a living. The case has been assigned to her and she doesn’t shy away from her work, she’s going to do it to the best of her ability. It throws her off slightly and she knows that she’s probably going to have to work twice as hard as anyone else, but that’s just who she is. She knows what’s going on, and there are passive aggressive moments, but she can’t let her ego get in the way of what the job involves right now, so she holds her tongue and she won’t say anything overtly. It’s not going to get you anywhere – if you say something then people will just tell you you’ve got a chip on your
shoulder... it’s just not helpful.
How did you find playing a detective?
Oh my God, the scenes where I just have to give lots of information were sometimes really hard to play, because it’s not coming from a place of emotion. You just have to reel off certain things in a particular way. I know in real life cops don’t say things that fast, but when we get to television you want the character to look quite slick. I had to do a whole speech reading out number plates in the phonetic alphabet and I was having such a hard time with it, it took me forever to learn!
Then we had the chase scenes – I think in my head I was Superwoman, but in reality not so much! It was like doing a HIIT workout for five hours. I remember running and running through Grand Central Station and wow, my thighs… I wasn’t too happy by the end of it but in the moment I felt like Tom Cruise!
Gone are the days when I used to insist on doing my own stunts. Now I look for the stuntwoman and thank her profusely for making me look good. I don’t want to take her job away from her!
How does it feel to play a trailblazing female lead character?
Rachita is a really good, meaty character and to me it’s all about finding this woman’s place in the world. You don’t often have an Asian female lead on TV.
One day I’d love to play a character who isn’t thinking about her identity – Bend It Like Beckham was about her identity too. But those parts are really hard to come by or don’t get made very often. DI Ray is just so well-written, Rachita’s interactions with people are really great and I loved playing a strong 40-something woman on the show, helmed by these people and telling this story.
I hope the audience enjoys watching Rachita, that they get caught up in her journey and the suspense of the show, the thriller aspect. I hope they get wrapped up in what’s going to happen next, and hopefully in good Jed Mercurio style just when you think one thing is happening, it won’t be what you thought it was!
DI Ray is on ITV in four parts Monday to Thursday at 9pm