Amber Kalirai

Amber Kalirai is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Coronation Street, played by Nikki Patel, the character first appeared on-screen during the episode airing on 9 November 2005. In May 2011 it was announced that Patel had returned to filming and Amber appeared again from 11 July 2011. Patel made her final appearance as Amber on 23 March 2012.

Nikki Patel was cast in the role. In May 2011 it was announced that Patel had returned to filming with the serial. Amber is a streetwise and sassy character who is not afraid to speak her mind. ITV Publicity goes on to confirm this by describing the character of Amber as: "She is an intelligent, friendly, outgoing chatterbox who loves sharing gossip with Norris Cole. She’s sassy and streetwise too." What's on TV magazine describe Amber as: "Open and honest and always speaks her mind - even if it's uncomfortable hearing! She loves to gossip and is able to indulge her passion with equally nosy shopkeeper Norris."

Amber later began dating Darryl Morton (Jonathan Dixon), which is her first real relationship, although the pair faced many obstacles within their first few weeks of dating. Darryl later moved in with Amber and her father Dev, after becoming homeless when his father Jerry rented 6 Coronation Street out to the Windass family. Due to his pairing with Amber, his character was given a reprieve so they could carry their on-screen romance after originally being axed with the rest of the Morton family.

The character of Amber became central to storylines during 2008 and Patel impressed bosses with her performance, and she was awarded with an onscreen relationship and friends; the first being Minnie Chandra who was portrayed by Poppy Jhakra. A spokesperson from the soap opera said: We've been extremely pleased with Nikki Patel's performance as Amber, so we thought it was about time to explore her friends on the Street. Minnie will play a part in the development of Amber's relationship with Daryl Morton and Dev's relationship with Tara."

On 19 February 2012, Colin Daniels of Digital Spy reported that Patel would be leaving the show. Daniels said the actress had already filmed her final scenes as Amber and she would make her last on-screen appearance the following month. Amber leaves Coronation Street following a series of rows with her stepmother, Sunita Alahan (Shobna Gulati). A show spokesperson said "Nikki will be leaving us at the end of her contract, but viewers may see Amber again." Her departure aired on 23 March 2012.

The character is the previously-unknown daughter of Dev Alahan (Jimmi Harkishin). She first appeared in November 2005, when her mum Ravinder was taken into hospital and she was looked after by her dad and his wife, Sunita Alahan (Shobna Gulati) on the Street. Amber started helping out in the Corner Shop but her incessant chat wound up Dev. Initially, Dev did not want Amber in his life as he was married to Sunita at the time and Amber served as a reminder of his philandering ways. However, he warmed to her and she came to live with him after her mother Ravinder moved to Finland with her partner. She had a crush on fellow neighbour David Platt (Jack P. Shepherd) but he was initially unaware of her feelings. When he did confront her, she denied it.

In early 2008, Amber began working at Valandros restaurant with Leanne Battersby (Jane Danson), Paul Clayton (Tom Hudson) and Luigi until it was set alight by Paul. Dev then claimed that he did not want her anywhere near Paul. Amber has an infatuation from David after he has been trying to make his ex-girlfriend Tina McIntyre (Michelle Keegan) jealous, first by letting Amber use one of his gig ticket which Tina had refused. In August 2008, David invited Amber around to his house for lunch in a deliberate attempt to annoy Tina. Amber, unaware that she was being used, kissed a less than enthusiastic David. Unable to contain her anger any longer, Tina stormed around to the house demanding to know why David was playing these games, this interruption left Amber humiliated. She breaks up with her boyfriend Darryl Morton (Jonathan Dixon) when she finds out he was going to leave her after her Dev paid him, although he changed his mind. She left Weatherfield to attend a university in London with her friend Mitch (Marcquelle Ward).

Mitch was a college friend of Amber who had been invited to a party along with Amber and Darryl in September 2009. Mitch met the couple in Victoria Street having booked a cab from StreetCars and excitedly told the pair that he could not wait to go to London as he would be able to purchase an Oyster card and use the underground instead of shelling out for taxis. Annoyed at finding out that he would be attending the same university as Amber, Darryl demands an explanation from her after instructing Mitch to go and double-check the booking, but as Amber brushed the matter aside and accused him of over-reacting, the pair argued and Darryl jumped to the conclusion that she fancied Mitch and refused to attend the party.