When Nalini Chetty graduated from drama school, a member of her family wondered what characters she’d play as she had “a Scottish accent but you don’t look Scottish".
Until she got the part of Zinnie Hassoun in River City, the actress conceded it was hard. But since leaving the soap – although she returned as part of last year’s 20th anniversary celebrations – Nalini has become a mainstay of Scottish-made shows, appearing in Karen Pirie, Six Four with Kevin McKidd and upcoming Crime 2 with Dougray Scott.
The actress, of Longniddry, East Lothian, whose dad is a South African Indian and mum was from Grangemouth, said: “As someone who identifies as biracial, it really feels there are avenues open to me that would not have been 15 years ago.
“That’s why I went down south, because I felt I hadn’t seen people of mixed-race origin playing these parts on Scottish stage and screen, and so I thought I had to go down there and change my accent.”
In London they didn’t want her speaking with her Scots accent and, rather than acting, she demonstrated vacuum cleaners in stores and handed out newspapers. She eventually got her breakthrough in River City in 2011 and returned to Scotland.
But since making her home in Lenzie, near Glasgow, with her lawyer husband and two children, Nalini sees a change.
From tonight until September, she plays Stella in A Streetcar Called Desire at Pitlochry Theatre, a part she doesn’t think she’d have been considered for even five years ago.
Bridgerton, especially, has opened doors for more diverse casting. She added: “I feel like things are really busy in Scotland. Post-pandemic there has been a surge in demand for content.
“With so many streaming channels there seems to be many different platforms. And casting is moving forward in terms of representation.”
Nalini played Zinnie in River City for four years, leaving the show in 2015 after her character was blown up by a car bomb meant for gangster Lenny Murdoch. But she returned to write some of the Shieldinch storylines involving Cassie and Angus and their unplanned pregnancy.
Last year, in the 20th anniversary episode, she was part of Stephen Purdon’s character Bob’s alternative Shieldinch.
And given EastEnders revealed last month Michelle Collins' character Cindy Beale will be returning to Walford from the grave after more than 20 years, Nalini isn’t closing the door on her own miraculous return. She said: “I was back for the 20th anniversary special and that was pretty surreal! I think most probably my Shieldinch days are over. But never say never.”
It’s fair to say she hasn’t looked back since leaving River City. Nalini said: “It wasn’t hard to leave. I was pregnant with my son and definitely ready for a change. I think the time was right. I very much enjoyed the more involved storylines.
“The consent storyline was a welcome challenge. It was heartening to hear that it affected people and raised awareness of a difficult subject.”
As well as loving her time on the soap, it has also given her career the kickstart it needed. She said: “I feel I’ve been super busy and productive.
“I’m now a mum of two fantastic wee ones. Since leaving River City, I’ve written for TV, radio, acted in lots of theatre, hosted a podcast and navigated a pandemic. Never a dull moment.”
After the pandemic, her first TV role was in Karen Pirie and she said it was a “relief” to be able to be back on a set.
“Although filming at that time with Covid restrictions was complicated,” she added. “There were quite a few familiar faces from River City. It’s always nice to see folk from past jobs.”
Nalini then got a bigger role in ITVX crime drama Six Four with Kevin McKidd, playing the tank-top wearing DS Shereen Rahman. The whole production is hoping for a second series.
She said: “I loved working with Kevin.
“It needs a second series. Shereen was also slightly cut down because I got Covid. I’d love to be back. There are so many tank-tops still to be worn.”
Next up is the second series of Irvine Welsh-penned Crime, which stars Dougray Scott. She said: “Crime was fun. I only met Dougray at the read through and Irvine read in opposite me.
“My scene was with actor Derek Riddell who was lovely, and I was pleased to be able to talk to him about Happy Valley, my all-time favourite programme.
“Our scene was filmed at midnight which was a shock to the system.”
Sleep might be difficult this year as she juggles work in Pitlochry with commuting to see her family. Nalini, who has been in the Perthshire town since April rehearsing, said: “It’s
unbelievably beautiful up here. I’m in love with the place, the theatre and surrounding area. I’m not sure I realised quite how magical the area was.
“I’m here for the best part of six months so I’ll hopefully get to explore a lot more. I do have to get back for my kids though.”
She has son Luca, seven, and daughter Mara-Kate, two, with husband Alan. He will be looking after the kids as she works in Pitlochry and then from August while she’s doing Streetcar she’ll start another play starring John Michie and Sally Reid – Group Portrait in a Summer Landscape which, after a month in Pitlochry, goes to the Royal Lyceum in Edinburgh.
She said: “I met John on my first TV job – one of the last ever Taggarts – and he was a pleasure to work with.”
Starring in Streetcar is something of a full circle for Nalini. She smiled: “My first acting role was in Tennessee Williams’ A Glass Menagerie at school.
“I played matriarch Amanda Wingfield. His writing spoke to me like nothing had before. I then wrote about Tennessee Williams for my Highers and went on to study in his work in depth in my sixth year.
“When I studied at Bristol Uni, I directed Streetcar for the drama society. Now revisiting it, I have a far greater understanding than I did then. I feel like Tennessee and I keep colliding. Maybe I’ll get to play Amanda again in my 60s.”
She re-watched the famous 1951 film version starring Marlon Brando as Stanley, Vivien Leigh as Blanche and Kim Hunter as Stella. Both Vivien and Kim won Oscars.
Nalini said: “There will have been many wonderful incarnations of Stella but I’m sure they are all unique. I think you bring your own life experience and some of your own character traits to any part. That is where you meet and a unique performance is created.”
● A Streetcar Named Desire runs at Pitlochry Festival Theatre from tonight until September 30. Tickets: www.pitlochryfestivaltheatre.com
