Chris has played Jai’s character for over 13 years
In contrast to his troubled character, Chris Bisson, who plays Jai Sharma in Emmerdale, leads a tranquil off-screen life with his wife and kids.
For more than 13 years, Chris has been a mainstay on ITV’s village drama, bringing with him some of the show’s most significant storylines and plot points. His portrayal of Jai Sharma has been challenged in every way, beginning with the revelation that he was purportedly Mia’s father and continuing with his struggles with her passing, multiple marriages, and cocaine addiction.
After ten years, it appears that his troubled past is behind him as he settles into the quiet life. His time in Emmerdale has been anything but quiet. His off-screen reality is very different from the ups and downs of Jai as he cuddles up to Laurel and establishes the good life.
Chris, a Wythenshawe native, has been happily married to Rowena Finn for more than 16 years. The happy news of the couple’s engagement was announced on the soap star’s official Twitter page back in 2016.
Speaking to OK! Magazine about the moment he proposed to his partner on their 10th anniversary trip to the Lake District, he said: “An elderly couple walking hand in hand had been seen earlier. It was extremely sweet. There’s a reason I brought you here, I told Rowena. You remember that elderly couple we saw earlier? Well, would you like to age in that manner alongside me?”
Chris and Rowena became first-time parents in 2013 when their son, Harry, was born, prior to getting engaged. And just two years later, in 2015, they welcomed Ella Rose into the world, their first daughter. Additionally, Chris frequently shares photos from his family’s adventures on social media.
Fans may also recall that Chris hasn’t always worked on Emmerdale and that he actually spent a number of years in a rival soap. This is unrelated to his personal life. From 1999 to 2002, he portrayed Vikram Desai in Coronation Street. Before Dev Alahan took over the corner store, Vikram, Dev’s cousin, ran it. He and Steve McDonald founded Street Cars together.
Rebecca Sarker, a co-star of Chris’ in Emmerdale, was already in Weatherfield as Nita Desai, Vikram’s sister, and ended up becoming his boss at the shop. However, Chris’ character Vickram took a one-way trip to Mumbai after he got involved in drug smuggling to pay off his gambling debts before clearing out Street Cars’ tax account and leaving in 2002. Meanwhile, Nita’s character ended up leaving the family business to join Freshco supermarket and leaving the street in 2000 to open her own store in Inverness.
Chris claimed he left Corrie because the storylines were too thin. When speaking about the subject with Manchester Evening News, he said: “I had considered leaving Coronation Street on numerous occasions before I finally quit.
“I hadn’t had a good plot for a while, so that’s why. Since I’ve been acting since I was 13, I have no reason to be particularly concerned. For four years, I played the same character on Coronation Street.
Chris asserted that the lack of storylines on Corrie was the reason he left the show. When discussing it with Manchester Evening News, he said: “I’d thought about leaving Coronation Street several times before I finally quit.”
“That was because I hadn’t had a solid plot in a while. I don’t worry too much because I’ve been an actor since I was 13 years old. I played the same part on Coronation Street for four years.
It does limit the number of parts you can play because as soon as you start losing your hair, you’re cast as older. If you’re 40 and bald, people will probably cast you as 45 or 50. Your career might be impacted.
There are unquestionably more roles available for actors with a full head of hair. You never know what chances you might miss. The Manchester actor had surgery at the Farjo Hair Institute in the city, and Chris claims it has improved his quality of life both on and off the set.
“In real life, you don’t really notice your hair loss on a daily basis,” he continued. It’s different at work because you have a particular look you need to achieve while seated in front of a mirror. I think I first noticed it when I was in my early to mid-30s.
“I was ecstatic that I had been able to maintain my hair for so long. But you notice when you get to work and they have to adjust the lighting or put more powder on your head for makeup to take the shine off before you do a take.
- EastEnders spoilers: Serious danger for killer Bobby as Cindy Beale returns from the dead for revenge
- Emmerdale star hints at tragic ending for Charity Dingle as Chloe fights for Mack
- Coronation Street exit for Evelyn Plummer as she’s left heartbroken by Roy Cropper
- Emmerdale spoilers: Manpreet’s fury in injury drama
- Emmerdale clash as Manpreet Sharma’s suspicions about Claudette are confirmed
- EastEnders chaos as Linda Carter left furious over her mum’s betrayal
