Haz Devkar
Hari 'Haz' Devkar is a fictional character from the Australian television soap opera Neighbours, played by Shiv Palekar. He made his first appearance as Haz during the episode broadcast on 18 September 2023. Palekar's casting and Haz's character details were publicised on 7 June 2023. Haz was one of the show's new characters introduced following the show's cancelation and return, following its acquisition by Amazon Freevee. Haz is introduced into the series as the manager of Harold's Café. He lives in a house share concept with Mackenzie Hargreaves and Byron Stone. They are depicted as good friends and writers made Mackenzie his love interest. Haz also shares screen time with Trevor, a pet Groodle that writers included in many of Haz's initial episodes. Haz is characterised as "a real community person" who values "honesty and justice".
Writers explored romance for Haz via relationships with Billie Alessio and Holly Hoyland, the latter forming a love-triangle plot with the involvement of Mackenzie. In 2024, writers united Haz and Mackenzie and explored their relationship. Haz was initially portrayed as a friendly café owner but created a problematic past featuring cyber crime, which was fully utilised in his later story. It explored the impact hacking, AI attacks and deepfakes being inflicted upon his friends and neighbours. Producers introduced Wade Fernsby as a nemesis for Haz; a former victim of his crimes, Wade seeks revenge and begins a spate of cyber crimes to ruin Haz's life. The plot culminated in a car accident plot, with Mackenzie running him over and Haz being comatose. His sister, Amira Devkar, was introduced into the series and scenes explored their problematic relationship. Haz also featured in a series of episodes set in the Australian outback.
Palekar left Neighbours after one year and Haz was written out of the series with Mackenzie. Writers created a wedding storyline for the duo prior to their departure. After marrying, Haz and Mackenzie leave Erinsborough and move to Paris. Palekar believed that Haz proved that redemption is possible despite its challenges, applauding the character for remaining "true to himself". He last appeared as Haz during the episode broadcast on 17 September 2024. Palekar reprised the role in 2025 for the show's final episodes. Neighbours writer Shane Isheev stated that Haz had "untapped potential" and wished the character had remained in the show longer. Haz has received a positive reception from critics of the genre. They commented on Haz's friendly and nice guy persona, with others favouring his backstory and the cyber crime stories.
Casting
Auditions for Haz were held prior to Neighbours returning after Amazon Freevee rebooted the series following its 2022 cancellation. During the audition process for Haz, actor Shiv Pelaker decided to research the show further. He was born in India, he was raised in Hong Kong and was not entirely familiar with the show. Palekar watched Jackie Woodburne, who plays the character Susan Kennedy, perform a monologue in Neighbours then final episode. This made him more inclined to secure a role in the show's revival because he realised that Neighbours is "something special".Palekar's casting and the character were announced on 7 June 2023 via the serial's social media accounts. A Neighbours publicist wrote that "We're thrilled to announce that Shiv Palekar will be joining us in the new role of Haz Devkar in all new episodes of Neighbours later this year." It was also revealed that Haz would be managing Harold's Café. Fremantle Australia also released promotional photographs of Palekar in character, including one with Ian Smith, who plays Harold Bishop, the original owner of Harold's Café. Haz is one of several new characters introduced into Neighbours following the series being renewed by Amazon Freevee. Palekar made his first appearance as Haz during the episode broadcast on 18 September 2023. Palekar thought that playing a café manager was ironic because of his own work experiences. Palekar secured work in the hospitality sector in-between acting work. He found playing a character in the hospitality industry "a bit triggering" but "less stressful than real café work".
Development
Introduction and Mackenzie
When Haz is introduced into the series, he lives on Ramsay Street at Number 32. Producers included him in a house share concept alongside the established characters Mackenzie Hargreaves and Byron Stone. When the show resumed broadcasting, the housemates are depicted as having been living together for only three months. Palekar told Tom Spilsbury from Total TV Guide that "the three of us are housemates, Haz has moved to Erinsborough and is running Harold's coffee shop." Haz relocates from Geelong to run the business, Palekar told Sarah Ellis from Inside Soap that Haz arrived looking for a house share. He added that the cast were unsure how Haz, Mackenzie and Byron originally became friends. Molyneux added that the three characters lead "very different work lives" and Stone concluded that "they're all getting along really well." The actor told Steven Murphy from TVTimes that Haz is characterised as "a real community person".To aid Haz's introduction as the new owner of Harold's Café, he is featured in scenes previous owner Harold Bishop. Haz Palekar told Chloe Timms that Haz is portrayed as a "coffee snob" who tries to "force people into their coffee order." He added that Haz makes exceptions for those he likes. Set designers introduced new décor to the café and writers addressed this in scenes featuring Harold approving of Haz's changes. Palekar revealed that Harold is "excited about the new look" and that Haz and Harold get acquainted over the history of the coffee shop. He concluded that "the scenes with Haz and Harold are beautiful."
Writers positioned Haz as a potential love interest for Mackenzie. A bond develops between the two characters during Haz's initial episodes. Mackenzie is a widow, following the death of her husband, Hendrix Greyson. This occurred two years prior to meeting Haz but writers portrayed her as willing to move on. Stone told Asyia Iftikhar from PinkNews that "the budding relationship between Mackenzie and Haz, that is gonna be really cool." She added that some of her "favourite moments" occurred whilst filming with Palekar. In one scene, Haz and Mackenzie get to know each other around their swimming pool at night. Palekar described it as "a beautiful night time scene" where they "discuss all the big questions" in life and begin "connecting". Palekar described it as one of his favourite scenes and a "beautiful moment".
In the backstage video series Ramsay Street Revelations, Stone revealed that it was an "incredibly big deal" for Mackenzie to be exploring romance again. She believed Mackenzie was reaching a point where she feels ready to move on. She described Haz and Mackenzie as "really good friends" and their early dynamic as a "will they? won't they?" style scenario. Stone stated that Mackenzie views Haz as "kind", "really genuine", "really funny", "really playful" and "really down to earth". Stone believed Mackenzie "loved" these personality traits. As Mackenzie had experienced much trauma, she is a "really drawn to" Haz's "lightness". In the video, Palekar stated that Haz has "ultimate respect and admiration" for Mackenzie. He revealed that Haz values "honesty and justice and truth and just doing good in the world." He believed that Mackenzie upheld these values and plays into Haz's attraction to Mackenzie. Palekar added that "I think Haz just admires the hell out of Mackenzie. He puts her on a pedestal, maybe to his detriment."
Mackenzie initially keeps her romantic feelings about Haz a secret. He encourages her to go on a date and she ends up meeting Eden Shaw. Writers also temporarily side-lined Mackenzie as Haz's love interest, by creating a romance between Haz and Billie Alessio. This relationship is short because Haz favours his pet dog, Trevor over Billie.
Love triangle
Writers further complicated the scenario by introducing Haz and Mackenzie's friend, Holly Hoyland into the story. Holly and Mackenzie both have been hurt emotionally by Eden and seek out Haz's comfort. A Neighbours publicist told Inside Soap's Sarah Ellis that Mackenzie had romantic feelings for Haz for month, but only Sadie Rodwell is privy to this. They added that both Mackenzie and Holly conclude that Haz is their ideal partner following turmoil with Eden. Holly's efforts to seduce Haz are not successful. The publicist added that Haz is more interested in Mackenzie and revealed that she was ultimately the reason Haz and Billie's relationship failed.Haz and Holly begin a relationship but she soon becomes jealous of Mackenzie's hold over Haz. The story begins when Holly organises a Christmas get together where they exchange gifts. Mackenzie makes Haz a scarf and Holly is jealous when she witnesses their "deep connection" when exchanging gifts. A publicist told Chloe Simms from Inside Soap that Haz and Mackenzie "have been dancing around their feelings for months, but poor Holly might end up a casualty of their mixed signals." Holly destroys the scarf in a fit of rage and regrets her actions. Haz assumes that Trevor has chewed the scarf and Holly lets the dog be blamed. Holly confides in Byron about her actions and she decides to confess. Haz discovers video footage of Holly destroying the scarf before she can confess and confronts her. Holly tells Haz that she is aware of his romantic feelings for Mackenzie.
The love triangle story was centric to the show's special Christmas day episode. It explores the fall out between Haz, Mackenzie and Holly. Haz's Christmas party ends badly when Holly argues with Mackenzie about her feelings for Haz. Holly then falls into the swimming pool and beings drowning. Haz manages to save her. Writers portrayed another twist in the love triangle with Haz feeling guilty about Holly's accident and reconciles with her. Holly refuses to forgive Mackenzie and tells Haz and Mackenzie that one of them need to move out of the share house. In January 2024, Neighbours confirmed its plans to unite Haz and Mackenzie and explore their romance. Haz eventually breaks-up with Holly and then faces losing his dog, Trevor. The storyline leads into Mackenzie supporting Haz through the ordeal and beginning a relationship.