'Emmerdale' Rik Makarem teases Nikhil, Gennie plot

Emmerdale's Rik Makarem has admitted that he is enjoying showing Nikhil Sharma's villainous side in his latest plot.

The businessman was dumped by girlfriend Chas Dingle, only to have her half-sister Gennie (Sian Reese Williams) declare her love for him. However, she was cruelly rejected.

Makarem suggested that his alter ego may have to reconsider his decision, telling the Daily Record: "I've always said I'd love to play a villain because it's so far removed from the way I am normally and I'm certainly getting a little taste of it just now.

"What is he doing? He's graced with this very loyal girl, the only person who really understands him, and he's putting her through the mix. She's had to watch her sister and the man she thinks is the love of her life getting it on.

"It's great stuff to play. To make sure the fall for Gennie is dramatic, we have had to really make a colourful impression of how passionate the romance is between Chastity and Nikhil. What Gennie can see is Chastity is not fully investing in this relationship while this sensitive guy is willing to offer all this love."



Makarem noted the Shakespearian element of the plot, while also acknowledging similarities to Bridget Jones.

"It's a bit like Orsino in Twelfth Night, this character who is in love with the idea of being in love and he is projecting all this on to Chas when she is not the right girl and he can't see what is right under his nose," he said. "Bridget Jones? I don't know if I would compare myself to Hugh Grant or Colin Firth. A hybrid, is probably the safe answer."

Teasing upcoming developments in the storyline, Makarem added: "What we have to go through just now is Nikhil's conflict of what is right for him, until he understands that chasing the wrong thing won't get him anywhere.

"He's been in previous relationships where he's the one investing and getting nothing back. I know people like that and I admit maybe there was a time when I did that. I really invested in something which wasn't true. It wasn't in harmony and it doesn't offer the best parts of your personality, it doesn't give you ownership of yourself."

Makarem added: "Nikhil has to make that decision of what is right for him and maybe accept somebody like Gennie is more suited to him. I think he deserves someone to love him and to see what that would do to him."

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