Jimmi Harkishin: The Man Behind Coronation Street’s Dev Alahan​

An English actor with a vast fan following, Jimmi Harkishin gained popularity for playing the character of Dev Alahan on the ITV soap opera that has lasted the test of time, “Coronation Street.” Harkishin has earned the status of a renowned actor; however, he leads a very reserved life away from the media glare. A lot of his fans wonder about his personal life, familial ties and his wealth. This article seeks to explain the latter part of his life by explaining his early years, professional life, private life, social media accounts, net worth and his career prospects in showbiz.

Early Life, Parents, and Education

Jimmi Harkishin was born Rajan Harkinshindas on March 19, 1965, in Paris, France. His family background is multicultural; his father is of Indian descent, while his mother has Italian heritage. This blend of cultures played a significant role in shaping his upbringing.

While Harkishin was born in France, he geographically has connections to the UK, where he spent most part of his early life. Through this, Harkishin was able to learn more about British culture while retaining his Indian and Italian roots. 

His family put a strong focus on education and had high hopes that Harkishin would go down a more conventional and respectable path in life, like medicine or business. 

Unfortunately for them, Harkishin’s passion for storytelling and acting had very different plans for him.

Currently, there is not much public domain information regarding Harkishin’s education. Like many other actors, he did not attend a drama school and chose to take the traditional route into acting. Rather, he started off his career with small roles on television and in theater, which allowed him to work his way towards film and television.

Acting Career

Early Career (1987–1999)

Harkishin’s debut came in the late 1980s with his performance in numerous British television dramas. His very first significant role came in a television mini-series, “A killing on the Exchange”, in 1987, where he played a small yet noteworthy role.

He continued securing television roles throughout the early 1990s. Some of his key performances include:

• “Shalom Salaam” (1989) – A drama exploring the experiences of Jewish and Muslim families in the UK.
  
• “Uncle Jack and Operation Green” (1990–1993) – A children’s adventure series in which he played Jose Cuervo.
  
• “Medics” (1992–1995) – A British medical drama where he portrayed Dr Jay Rahman, a role that gained him wider recognition.
  

During this time, he also started to appear in movies. In 1993, he starred in the British comedy-drama Bhaji on the Beach, directed by Gurinder Chadha. The story focused on the British-Asian woman’s life perspective during the visit to Blackpool, with Harkishin portraying Ranjit, one of the key male characters.

Coronation Street (1999–Present)

Jimmi Harkishin’s biggest career breakthrough came when he was cast as Dev Alahan in Coronation Street. He made his first appearance on November 10, 1999, and has remained a prominent character for more than two decades.

Dev Alahan is a wealthy businessman who owns several corner shops in Weatherfield. His storylines have included dramatic relationships, family conflicts, and financial troubles. Some of his most notable moments include:

• Romantic entanglements—Dev has had multiple affairs and complicated relationships over the years. His most significant romance was with Sunita Alahan, the mother of his twins, Aadi and Asha.
  
• Family drama—His role as a father has been a central theme, especially with the challenges of raising Aadi and Asha as a single parent.
  
• Personal tragedies—Dev has faced numerous struggles, including Sunita’s tragic death in 2013 and conflicts with his children.
  
• Business struggles—While he is a successful businessman, his ventures have not always been smooth, leading to financial ups and downs.
  

Harkishin’s portrayal of Dev Alahan has made him one of the most recognizable faces on British television. His character has also played an important role in increasing British-Asian representation in mainstream media.

Temporary Departure in 2025

In February 2025, reports emerged that Harkishin would take a temporary break from Coronation Street. His character, Dev, is set to travel to India as part of a storyline, but this is not a permanent exit. Fans can expect his return later in the year.

Awards and Recognition

While he has not won major acting awards, Harkishin has been nominated for several British Soap Awards and Inside Soap Awards, including:

• Sexiest Male (2002)—British Soap Awards
  
• Best Actor (2013) – Inside Soap Awards
  
• Best Comic Performance (2022) – Inside Soap Awards
  

His longevity on Coronation Street speaks volumes about his acting skills and popularity with audiences.

Personal Life: Wife, Children, and Relationships

Jimmi Harkishin is known for keeping his personal life out of the public eye. However, it is known that he has been in a long-term relationship with Susan Beaton.

He has three children:

1. Rajan Harkishin
   
2. India Rose Harkishin
   
3. Holli Harkishin
   

Despite his fame, Harkishin prefers to keep his family life private. Unlike many celebrities, he does not frequently share details about his personal experiences in interviews or on social media.

Social Media Presence

Unlike many modern actors, Jimmi Harkishin does not maintain a strong social media presence. He has a Twitter (X) account:

@GimmeJimmi – Over 12,000 followers

However, he rarely posts updates, and most news about him comes from official Coronation Street pages and media reports. He does not have active accounts on Instagram or Facebook.

Net Worth

The net worth of Jimmi Harkishin is approximated to be somewhere between £1 million and £3 million. His major source of income comes from appearing on Coronation Street, as it is reported that longtime cast members make between £100,000 and £200,000 a year.

Other sources of income include:

• Residual earnings from past TV and film roles
  
• Guest appearances and endorsements
  
• Investments and other ventures

Even though he is not in the ranks of the highest-paid actors in the United Kingdom, the stability that comes with sustained exposure on British television does provide financial security.

Final Thoughts

Harkishin has been an active television figure for the last thirty years and, in his time, has achieved a lot. His portrayal of Dev Alahan on Coronation Street has earned him significant prominence, making him a well-known name in the soap opera scene in Britain.

Harkishin has kept his private life to himself owing to his public career. Currently, he has taken a break from ‘Coronation Street’ in 2025, and his fans are waiting to see what he does next alongside his return.