For further information:
Louise Zayed
Senior Press Officer
Tel: +353 1 419 3428
louise.zayed@tv3.ie
Kevin Shore
Press Officer
Tel: +353 1 419 3387
kevin.shore@virginmedia.ie
publicity@tv3.ie
TV3 GROUP RELEASE
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday2ndMarch, 2015.
Bollywood comes to ‘Red Rock’.
Siraj Zaidi, from Terenure, plays an Indian father who has come to the attention of the Gardaí in a controversial story about an arranged marriage.
Siraj is an actor and movie producer who has been a distributor of Bollywood films in Ireland for the past 15 years.
Thursday night’s episode reveals a shocking twist when Hakam’s daughter, Sai, played by Saikumari Janapereddy from Clonsilla, reveals that she is in fact a lesbian, and in a relationship with Caitilin, played by Zoe Talbot, an eight-time World Irish Dancing Champion from Swords.
‘Red Rock’ airs every Wednesday and Thursday at 8.30pm on TV3.
Video link is available on request.
Interviews are available on request.
In this week’s Red Rock, an Indian family come to the attention of the Gardaí in a controversial storyline about an arranged marriage. Dublin actors, Siraj Zaidi, Zoe Talbot and Saikumari Janapereddy have landed guest parts in TV3’s new hit soap and will feature in the gripping storyline which will air Wednesday 4th March and Thursday 5th March at 8.30pm on TV3.
Dublin actor, Siraj from Terenure, plays a frantic father, Hakam Gulati, looking for his 18-year-old daughter, Sai, played by Saikumari Janapereddy from Clonsilla, who has gone missing. Hakam is met by officers Adrijan (Boyko Krastanov) and Sean (David Crowley) down at Red Rock station, but their search soon turns into an interrogation when they discover a wedding dress in the man’s home, leading them to believe he isn’t giving them the full story.
It transpires that the father had an arranged marriage set up for his daughter, and it now looks like she may have run away with her boyfriend to escape the unwanted wedding. Hakam is adamant that this is not the case and that she was fine with the arranged marriage, but either way, the race is on to find the truth and bring his daughter back home safely.
Siraj is an actor and movie producer who has been a distributor of Bollywood films in Ireland for the past 15 years. No stranger to Irish television, Siraj has also appeared in Fair City, where he played an Indian professor for 12 episodes, in 2000, The Clinic, where he played a pharmacist and Glenroe, where he played a restaurant owner. Siraj also recently featured in the highly acclaimed ten part TV drama, Samvidhaan, which portrays the making of the constitution of India.
Zoe Talbot, an eight-time World Irish Dancing Champion from Swords, appears as Caitilin O’Malley, a friend of Sais. Known to the Gardaí, Caitilin seems to have had more than one run in with the law before! Hakam has never liked Caitilin and is sure that she knows where his daughter is, but she claims to have no idea.
Thursday night’s episode reveals a shocking twist as Sai is tracked down to none other than Caitilin’s house, and she is left with no choice but to come clean about why she had run away. Sai reveals that she is in fact a lesbian and in a relationship with Caitilin. However, her father, a devout Muslim, doesn’t take it well and heartbreak ensues.
Speaking about his part in ‘Red Rock’, Siraj Zaidi said: “Indian and Anglo-Indian storylines have been very popular in many British soaps over the years so it’s fantastic to see ‘Red Rock’ reflecting the changing demographic here. The story really highlights the emerging multi-cultural issues of today’s Ireland. It was an exciting challenge to be involved in such a controversial storyline and I hope that it will develop further.”
‘Red Rock’ airs every Wednesday and Thursday at 8.30pm on TV3.
Images have been sent to your picture desks & are available on request.
‘Red Rock’ is brought to you with thanks to the BAI Sound and Vision Fund.
ENDS
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NOTES TO EDITOR
Rock-Episode 17
Wednesday 4th March at 8:30pm TV3
Patricia and Claire discuss Michael’s future with him, and the likelihood of a charge of manslaughter, with the prospect of a lengthy stay in jail. It’s not murder though, so that’s at least something! Michael The Murderer doesn’t really have a ring to it!
As David helps Michael drown his sorrows, Michael grabs the car keys, and it’s driving under the influence that looks like the next likely notch on his bedpost of crime. Which Kiely will he take down with him this time?
Paudge goes to the see Sharon and she reveals she thinks Brian was behind her attack. If he can lure a schoolgirl, getting a fellow Garda beaten up is child’s play! Paudge tries to support her, but reckons she should take this as a warning; Brian is not to be messed with, and next time he could have her killed.
Later Brian pays Sharon a visit and he hints that her life could be in danger if she does not get a transfer to another station.
Meanwhile, back at the station, Adrijan and Sean deal with a man whose daughter is missing, but someone isn’t being completely honest.
Red Rock-Episode 18
Thursday 5th March at 8:30pm TV3
Superintendent James McKay comes to see a fragile Sharon in hospital. Desperate Sharon tries to summon the courage to tell the truth about bully boy Brian and his involvement in her attack, but bottles it and announces she wants a transfer. Blue steel McKay however, refuses her, leaving Sharon in an even bigger mess than Keith Kiely’s bedroom.
As Paudge comes to visit Sharon, she tells him of the danger and gravity of the situation. Paudge is ready to step in and play her knight in shining armour.
Never one to take things lying down and proving she’s a tough cookie, Sharon makes a surprise appearance and declares that she won’t be opting for the transfer, after all. Brian’s plan to get rid of Sharon has failed in dramatic fashion, and she’s determined not to let him away with it.
Over at the Tyrells’, Angela is apologetic and is determined to make a bigger effort with her family. However, Tommy goes behind her back and signs son Stephen to play football for Shamrock Rovers. Tommy sticks the knife in as he claims Angela is never there, and accuses her of spending every waking minute at the station, justified really, given there’s a lot of crime going on, not to mention a possible murderer on the loose!
Adrijan and Sean get to the bottom of the missing girl, and there’s a shock for her father as his daughter reveals she is in fact a lesbian. However, her father, a strict Muslim, doesn’t take it well and heartbreak ensues.
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