Rishi Kumar Nair (born 22 January 1991) is an English actor. On television, he is known for his roles in the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks (2017–2021) and the ITV detective drama Grantchester (2024–). He also appeared in the ITVX horror comedy Count Abdulla (2023).
Early life
Nair was born in the West London Borough of Ealing.[1] He grew up in a Hindu family.[2] Prior to going into acting, Nair studied law at university.[3]
Career
Nair made his television debut in 2015 with appearances in episodes of the BBC One police procedurals Silent Witness and New Tricks. He also had stage roles in The Jungle Book at the Emporium Theatre in Brighton,[4]The Sawyer Studies at the Etcetera Theatre in London,[5] and Bring on the Bollywood at Belgrade Theatre in Coventry.[6] He appeared in the independent films I'm Still Here (2013), The Forbidden Note (2016), and Retribution (2017).
Also in 2017, Nair joined the cast of the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks as lawyer Sami Maalik, a new member of the Maalik family, making his debut in September 2017.[7][8] For his performance, Nair was shortlisted for Best Newcomer at the 2018 Inside Soap Awards. He exited the soap at the end of 2021 after four years.[9]
After leaving Hollyoaks, Nair appeared in the 2022 comedy film Brian and Charles[10] and had guest roles in the Acorn TV crime drama Whitstable Pearl and the Netflix series Treason. In 2023, Nair played Maajid in the ITVX vampire sitcom Count Abdulla.[11] In July 2023, it was announced Nair would join the cast of the ITV detective drama Grantchester for its ninth series[12] as vicar Alphy Kottaram, replacing the outgoing Tom Brittney (who plays Reverend Will Davenport) in the main ensemble.[13]
Personal life
Nair is a patron of the Family Burns Club charity.[14]
