DI Ray's Rachita star Parminder Nagra's love split from famous husband with 'victory'
Parminder Nagra is said to have scored a 'victory' over her photographer ex-husband, James Stenson, when their marriage was formally ended over 12 years ago. The insight into her past marriage woes comes as the Birmingham-set police series DI Ray, that Parminda stars in, has returned to screens.
It's been a two-year hiatus since viewers last saw DI Rachita Ray (portrayed by Parminder) at the centre of the Birmingham-based drama and now the second season of DI Ray debuted on Sunday, October 20, on ITV and ITVX. But back in 2012, Parminder's life was hit with turmoil away from the spotlight when she divorced her ex husband, with whom she shares a son, and faced a legal battle over money, which has since been settled.
Parminder married photographer James in January 2009 - with friend and former ER co-star Maura Tierney officiating the wedding. In May that year she gave birth to their son, Kai David Singh Stenson.
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Nagra filed to end their marriage in February 2012 but Stenson then launched legal action against the former ER star, claiming he deserved a portion of her earnings from the top medical drama as he gave up his job as a photographer to manage their life when she was cast in the show in 2004.
However, the pair then came to an agreement and legal documents obtained by TMZ at the time revealed Parminda didn't have to give up any of her income and in the settlement, the British actress was reportedly awarded all her 'income, residuals and royalties' from her successful acting career as well as the syndication money these gigs accrue in the future.
Parminder shot to fame as Jess Bhamra in the 2002 hit film Bend It Like Beckham, starring alongside Keira Knightley. She portrayed football-loving Jess, who stood up to her conservative parents who were against her dreams to play football.
The actress' role in the immensely popular film saw her acting career take off, and she also went on to become the first woman to win the FIFA Presidential Award.
Parminder landed the role of Dr. Neela Rasgotra in US medical drama ER in 2003, and was a regular on the show up until 2009. She's also starred in shows such as Alcatraz, Psych and The Blacklist, as well as Sky Atlantic thriller Fortitude, and Netflix's 13 Reasons Why.
Ahead of the release of DI Ray, Parminder praised her role, saying: "To me it’s all about finding this woman's place in the world.
“You don’t often have an Asian female lead on TV – it's starting to happen more, but having been in the business for so long, I feel like I've been saying the same thing for a long time.
“I can see the change with the likes of Bridgerton, but in DI Ray this is my generation of women, we’re in Birmingham and it’s so relatable – it's nice to play.
“That was the main appeal for me that I’m not playing the best friend of somebody or a secondary character, it’s all about Rachita," according to The Mirror.
DI Ray season two premiered on Sunday, October 20, on ITV and ITVX.
