Priya Sharma
Priya Kotecha is a fictional character from the British television soap opera Emmerdale, played by Fiona Wade. The character was introduced along with her brothers Jai and Nikhil by series producer, Gavin Blyth, as part of an ongoing overhaul of the show. Blyth described the characters as young, contemporary and living independent of their parents. Priya was originally played by Effie Woods from her introduction on 14 September 2009 until 1 March 2010. Wade took over the role in 2011.
Before her arrival on-screen, Woods described Priya as being fun-loving. She called her a flirtatious party girl and said she can be manipulative. She tends to charm her way out of any situation. Priya is closer to her elder brother Jai and often clashes with Nikhil. After the character was recast, Wade stated that Priya is confident and lives her life how she wants. Priya's storylines have seen her embark on a casual fling with Cain Dingle and start a relationship with David Metcalfe, her feud with Alicia Gallagher, a battle with anorexia, a marriage to Rakesh Kotecha, and an affair with Pete Barton, the fiancé of her best friend Leyla Harding. In October 2022, it was announced that Wade was set to leave Emmerdale after 11 years and her final scenes aired on 27 January 2023. Wade made an unannounced return in flashback scenes on 20 January 2026.
Casting
On 21 July 2009, Kris Green from Digital Spy reported Emmerdale new series producer, Gavin Blyth, would be introducing a new family called the Sharmas part of an ongoing overhaul of the show. The family, which consisted of three siblings, arrived in the village to manage a new confectionery factory. Of the siblings, Blyth said "The Sharmas are a young, contemporary family independent of their parents and will bring the factory into the heart of the village community. They will add real vitality to life in Emmerdale." Chris Bisson was cast as eldest sibling Jai Sharma, and Rik Makarem was cast as Nikhil Sharma. Effie Woods received the role of their younger sister, Priya. Woods was working in a call centre when her agent called to tell her she had won the part. Woods commented "I just ran down the corridor screaming – it was so amazing! It's a big show with such a history and such weight to it."In September 2011, it was announced Priya would be returning to Emmerdale, with Wade taking over the role from Woods. The actress told a writer from What's on TV, "I feel very happy and excited about this new venture and I'm delighted to be joining Emmerdale." On 6 May 2012, it was revealed that Wade had signed a new contract keeping her with the show for another year. She told Susan Hill from the Daily Star, "I've just signed a one-year contract, which I'm absolutely delighted about. It means they can plan lots of things for me, which is very exciting."
Development
Characterisation
Shortly before arrival on-screen, Woods called Priya a "fun-loving and fancy-free" character and said she would give her brothers a few headaches. Priya is a flirtatious, party girl who struggles with authority. Woods revealed the character's backstory, saying "Prior to arriving in the village, she went to fashion college but ended up dropping out, then she tried to set up her own business which could have done well, but she was bad at managing her money and spent it all. She ended up broke and had to get her family to bail her out." The actress believed that despite her tough exterior, Priya was ashamed of her business failing. Woods explained that the role of Priya appealed to her because she is a free spirit. She continued "She's a likeable person, a little bit manipulative but she's very upfront with it and charms her way out of any situation, so people tend to take to her." Priya is closer to Jai as he is relaxed, where as she clashes with Nikhil, who is more work orientated and dislikes her "sponging off them".Following the recast, Wade called Priya a sexy, pretty and classy girl. She explained "She's very confident and outspoken. Some of the things she comes out with, I think I wish I could say that. And, of course, she does love a bad boy." Priya finds employment at the local pub, The Woolpack, which Wade dubbed "an institution". She was honoured to be given the chance to play the new barmaid, despite being teetotal in real life. She believed Priya would bring something different to the Woolpack and revealed that regulars would not be sure how to take her. The actress teased more drama with between Priya and her brothers and said she was looking forward to it. She added that Priya "lives her life exactly how she wants" and Jai and Nikhil cannot control what she does.
Cain Dingle
Shortly after her return to the village, Priya embarks on a fling with Cain Dingle. Priya's flirtation with Cain is a chance for her to have some fun and wind up her brothers. When Jai's partner, Charity Tate, warns Priya to stay away from Cain, she refuses to listen to her. Wade told Inside Soap's Kate White, "The fact Charity has warned her off has actually made Priya more interested in Cain. She's really intrigued by him, and has no idea that he's just interested in her to antagonise Jai." The actress said that it is all a bit of fun for Priya, but it could all go wrong because of Cain's history. Wade revealed that Priya loves all the game-playing, but she did not think it was long until Cain has her where he wants her. Wade later explained to a writer for What's on TV, "Cain is totally using her, but Priya enjoys spending time with him as he treats her well. So she doesn't really think too much about his motives. She's not aware he's seeing her to annoy Jai. When Cain treats Priya to a night of champagne and a posh hotel she's in her element. They have good chemistry and I think she can sense he's a bad boy – it attracts her."Cain continues his rivalry with Jai, by using his family to get to him. Priya is unaware of what Cain is capable of, which is why she has been "bowled over" by him. When Jai finds out his sister has been seeing Cain, he is livid. However, she continues seeing Cain and he gives her a necklace. Bisson stated "The necklace belongs to their mum, Georgia, and was recently stolen. Jai's suspicions are aroused when Priya refuses to say where she got it from – but has no idea it's her mother's." Jai accuses Priya of stealing the necklace, which does not go down well. When their father Rishi Sharma is involved in a car accident, Jai suspects Cain tampered with the car and his suspicions grow when Cain texts him a picture of a sleeping Priya. Even with the evidence that Cain has been hurting her family, Priya refuses to believe that he has done anything wrong. The family become troubled by Priya's refusal to end her romance with Cain. When an argument between Jai and Priya ends in her being accidentally knocked to the ground, Cain encourages her to go to the police. Jai is then arrested and charged with assault.
David Metcalfe
In May 2012, Wade revealed that the scriptwriters had lined up a new love interest for Priya, but she was unaware of who it would be. She stated "All I've been told is that there will be a love interest coming her way but they won't tell me anything else." In August, Priya takes an interest in David Metcalfe after she is touched by his fatherly bond with Jacob Gallagher. Priya and David talk and he reveals that his marriage to Jacob's mother, Alicia Gallagher, is fake. However, when Priya asks David out for a drink, she is disappointed when he turns her down. Wolfenden later confirmed that a romance between Priya and David would begin to develop and they would share "secret snogs in the woods". David and Priya try to be discreet with their relationship, but after they are almost caught by Genesis Walker, they decide to arrange "a rendezvous" outside the village. However, they are caught by Nikhil and a show spokesperson explained "Being caught kissing by your brother is cringeworthy at the best of times, but Nikhil doesn't even know what's been going on. As far as he's aware, David is with Alicia – which means David's got a bit of explaining to do before that situation gets out of hand."David explains the truth about his marriage to Alicia to Nikhil, but he is scared that his friend is going to tell everyone about Priya. Nikhil also talks to his sister about getting involved with other people's husbands and Priya agrees to stay away from David. But when David and Priya run into each other at the local shop, "their chemistry remains as powerful as ever." Priya suggests that she and David continue their relationship in secret and he agrees.
Departure
On 23 October 2022, Joe Anderton of Digital Spy reported that Wade had decided to leave Emmerdale and would be filming her final scenes in the coming months, as she wanted to seek other acting opportunities. In an interview with Johnathon Hughes of Inside Soap, Wade told him that deciding to leave the serial was one of the hardest decisions she had ever made, but she wanted to challenge herself. She said that filming her last scenes was hard, especially knowing that she was going to leave her "Emmerdale family". Wade also commented that she would miss playing a character as complex, "cool and glamorous" as Priya. Her departure scenes were broadcast on 27 January 2023.In the lead up to Priya's exit, she organises a successful event at her wedding business Take A Vow, but when some candles set a bridal veil on fire, she suffers flashbacks to being severely burned in a fire two years prior. Wade explained "It's hugely triggering. Priya freezes and has a breakdown, which takes her by surprise as in the past few months, she's felt like her old self again – and this is a major setback. It makes her realise this thing she has gone through hasn't completely disappeared, it's still there." When Priya is offered a job opportunity in London, she is "already feeling out of sorts" and feels that it could be a fresh start. Wade said that there were a lot of memories for Priya in the village and that helps with her decision to accept the job.
Wade was proud of her character for standing up to Leyla, who was offered the same job, and her accusations of sabotage. She pointed out that Priya had been running the business single-handedly for a while, and the way Leyla reacts makes Priya realise that she needs to take this opportunity, as Leyla is taking advantage of her. Wade told Hughes: "I love that Priya feels empowered rather than guilty about deciding to accept the job. As much as I know she will be upset to leave her friends and family, and it will feel daunting knowing she has to stand on her own two feet, she feels strong about this decision." Priya's exit is marred by David's reaction to her news and the subsequent kidnapping of their daughter Amba. Wade noted that David has been going through a tough time and Priya taking Amba away "is another nail in the coffin."