Rakesh Kotecha

Rakesh Kotecha is a former business rival of Jai Sharma and the current love interest of Priya Sharma.

Rakesh arrived in the village as the last in a few selected meetings of candidates for the arranged marriage of Priya Sharma. On his way to meet her, Rakesh's car broke down on Main Street after passing through the Ford. Noticing a stranger in need of help, David and Alicia Metcalfe came out to offer their assistance. Unaware of who Rakesh was or why he was in the village, they helped him to mend his car. Priya was surprised when Rakesh arrived at Holdgate Farm to meet her just as she was taking care of her daughter Amba and covered in baby sick. When he released he had not checked his phone messages and discovered she had cancelled the meeting, an embarrassed Priya turned him away stating she'd be in touch a later date.

Staying true to her word, Priya contacted Rakesh and the pair met more conveniently the following day. Introducing him to her parents, Georgia and Rishi Sharma, proved an awkward affair as Rishi tried to make Rakesh welcome whilst Georgia continued to throw questions at Rakesh about his dead wife, Sana Kotecha and two children, Kirin and Rohini Kotecha. Not being put off by Georgia, and eventually winning her around, Priya was ecstatic at finally discovering a candidate that she liked. The success was shortlived however when her brother Jai Sharma arrived to meet him and discovered he was a man who he had known when he was younger and had bad business dealings with but refused to go into full detail. From this moment, Jai was determined that Priya and Rakesh would not marry but Priya ignored his warnings and was thrilled when Rakesh later proposed to her.

After vowing to split the pair up, Rakesh was delighted when he discovered Jai cheating on his girlfriend Megan Macey with her business partner, Leyla Harding. Using the knowledge to his advantage, Rakesh blackmailed Jai into attending his and Priya's engagement party and to feign a new found companionship between the two.

Rakesh starts a fire at Mill Cottage which causes an explosion. An unconscious Nicola King is trapped inside after the house exploded, so Ronnie Hale and Dan Spencer go in and get her out. Ronnie goes back into the burning house to see if there is anyone still inside but collapses unconscious in the kitchen. Rakesh and Carly Hope go in and get him out of the burning building. Ambulances and fire crew arrive. The ambulance crew try to wake Ronnie up.

Quotes
"Sold my soul to satellite navigation and now, look." (first line)