Tara Mandal
Encyclopedia
Tara Mandal, is a fictional character
on the British soap opera
Coronation Street
portrayed by Ayesha Dharker
.
was lambasted in a report by chairman of the Equality and Human Rights Commission Trevor Phillips
for being "too white". The report criticised the show's tokenism
in having existing Asian character Dev Alahan
fill the stereotypical role of shopkeeper. Dharker's casting as Tara also dually serves to increase Dev's role in the soap, as her arrival sees him become the centre of a mother-daughter love triangle. A show insider said: "We really want Ayesha to become a favourite with viewers." However, in the 14 April 2009 edition of TV Times
, it was reported that the character had been axed from the show and would depart screens the following month.
told her that Dev had also been sleeping with her mother. This led to the end of her relationship with Dev.
On Boxing Day 2008, Amber set Dev and Tara up on a date in the Rovers
, Amber told Tara she was having relationship problems with Darryl Morton
and that she wanted advice, whilst telling Dev she wanted a drink. When they arrived, they realised what happened, they soon sat down and made up whilst having a drink. Dev sold Tara the corner shop flat, as it was empty and Tara needed a place to stay., she gladly accepted. On 19 January 2009, Tara gave Amber a car as a belated birthday present. However, Dev was against this. Amber was offered a job by Darryl, so she could pay for driving lessons.
In March 2009, Dev refitted one of his shops as a new art gallery for Tara and she launched it with the name No Oil Painting. Dev's uncle Umed voiced concern that Tara was taking advantage of Dev's money and even suspected her of having a fling with Jason Grimshaw
who was doing the refit on the gallery. Tara began to dismay when it became apparent that there was little interest in her new venture as she was failing to sell any pictures. Keen to please her, Dev got Minnie Chandra to pose as a London art dealer who was interested in purchasing some work. Tara found out that it was indeed Dev that has purchased the art after Minnie brought the art into the shop and she left, humiliated that Dev had made a fool of her. After her departure, Dev had a one-night stand with old flame Lisa Dalton. To Dev's horror, Tara returned to the flat the following day to say how sorry she was, not knowing that Lisa was in the bedroom.
Tara later discovered Dev and Lisa's night of passion from Poppy Morales, and disgusted, planned her revenge, tricking Dev into posing naked at a photoshoot. On 11 May 2009, Tara revealed to the whole of Weatherfield the nude picture of Dev with the word 'LIAR' censoring him. Dev, who planned to propose to her that same day, and Tara argued in the flat before she packed her bags and left. Tara attempted to apologise to Amber, whom she was very fond of, but Amber refused to listen.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
on the British soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
Coronation Street
Coronation Street
Coronation Street is a British soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960...
portrayed by Ayesha Dharker
Ayesha Dharker
Ayesha Dharker is a British-Indian actress. She is known for her performance in the Tamil Indian film, The Terrorist , for which she was awarded Best Artistic Contribution by an Actress at the Cairo International Film Festival and nominated for a Chlotrudis Award and National Film Award for Best...
.
Creation
Her creation and casting were first announced on 22 August 2008, one month after Coronation StreetCoronation Street
Coronation Street is a British soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960...
was lambasted in a report by chairman of the Equality and Human Rights Commission Trevor Phillips
Trevor Phillips
Trevor Phillips OBE chairs the Equality and Human Rights Commission and is a former television executive and presenter...
for being "too white". The report criticised the show's tokenism
Tokenism
In the arts, employment, and politics, tokenism is a policy or practice of limited inclusion or artistic and/or political representation of members of a traditionally marginalized group, usually creating a false appearance of inclusive practices rather than discrimination, intentional or not...
in having existing Asian character Dev Alahan
Dev Alahan
Devendra 'Dev' Alahan is a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by actor Jimmi Harkishin, the character first appeared onscreen during the episode airing on 10 November 1999.-Character development:...
fill the stereotypical role of shopkeeper. Dharker's casting as Tara also dually serves to increase Dev's role in the soap, as her arrival sees him become the centre of a mother-daughter love triangle. A show insider said: "We really want Ayesha to become a favourite with viewers." However, in the 14 April 2009 edition of TV Times
TV Times
TVTimes is a television listings magazine published in the United Kingdom by IPC Media, a subsidiary of Time Warner. It is known for its access to television actors and their programmes. In 2006 it was refreshed for a more modern look, increasing its emphasis on big star interviews and soaps...
, it was reported that the character had been axed from the show and would depart screens the following month.
2008–09
Tara made her first appearance on 15 September 2008 when Dev met her at a dinner party thrown by her parents Prem and Nina. She reappeared on 10 October 2008 when she called to Dev's apartment to discuss business matters on her father's behalf. From the outset, it was evident that there was an attraction between the pair. They were interrupted by a jealous Nina who warned Dev to stay away from her daughter. After she left, Tara tried to kiss Dev but he rejected her advance, she left feeling embarrassed. On 20 October, Tara invited Dev to her house after asking for Prem's consent to the relationship. The two were about to share a kiss when Prem and Nina walked in. Dev was forced to end his relationship with Tara after he admitted to Prem that he had been sleeping with Nina, Prem and Dev agreed that Tara would not know of the affair. However, Tara reconciled with Dev and they resumed their relationship. In November 2008, a devastated Tara discovered that her ex boyfriend had been having a fling with her mother when they were together. Further heartbreak followed when Dev's daughter AmberAmber Kalirai
Amber Kalirai is a fictional character from the ITV soap opera Coronation Street, played by Nikki Patel, the character first appeared on-screen during the episode airing on 9 November 2005. In May 2011 it was announced that Patel had returned to filming and Amber appeared again from 11 July...
told her that Dev had also been sleeping with her mother. This led to the end of her relationship with Dev.
On Boxing Day 2008, Amber set Dev and Tara up on a date in the Rovers
Rovers Return Inn
The Rovers Return Inn is a fictional public house on the long-running British soap opera Coronation Street. The Rovers Return occupies the corner of Coronation Street and Rosamund Street. Since the first episode it has been the principal setting in the show and many of its most memorable moments...
, Amber told Tara she was having relationship problems with Darryl Morton
Darryl Morton
Darryl Morton is a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by former Grange Hill actor Jonathan Dixon, the character first appeared onscreen during the episode airing on 18 March 2007.-Background:...
and that she wanted advice, whilst telling Dev she wanted a drink. When they arrived, they realised what happened, they soon sat down and made up whilst having a drink. Dev sold Tara the corner shop flat, as it was empty and Tara needed a place to stay., she gladly accepted. On 19 January 2009, Tara gave Amber a car as a belated birthday present. However, Dev was against this. Amber was offered a job by Darryl, so she could pay for driving lessons.
In March 2009, Dev refitted one of his shops as a new art gallery for Tara and she launched it with the name No Oil Painting. Dev's uncle Umed voiced concern that Tara was taking advantage of Dev's money and even suspected her of having a fling with Jason Grimshaw
Jason Grimshaw
Jason Grimshaw, is a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by actor Ryan Thomas, the character first appeared during the episode airing on 25 December 2000, when he comes looking for mother Eileen at the Battersbys' home.Jason is very much the...
who was doing the refit on the gallery. Tara began to dismay when it became apparent that there was little interest in her new venture as she was failing to sell any pictures. Keen to please her, Dev got Minnie Chandra to pose as a London art dealer who was interested in purchasing some work. Tara found out that it was indeed Dev that has purchased the art after Minnie brought the art into the shop and she left, humiliated that Dev had made a fool of her. After her departure, Dev had a one-night stand with old flame Lisa Dalton. To Dev's horror, Tara returned to the flat the following day to say how sorry she was, not knowing that Lisa was in the bedroom.
Tara later discovered Dev and Lisa's night of passion from Poppy Morales, and disgusted, planned her revenge, tricking Dev into posing naked at a photoshoot. On 11 May 2009, Tara revealed to the whole of Weatherfield the nude picture of Dev with the word 'LIAR' censoring him. Dev, who planned to propose to her that same day, and Tara argued in the flat before she packed her bags and left. Tara attempted to apologise to Amber, whom she was very fond of, but Amber refused to listen.