Priya Kapoor is a fictional character from the Australian television soap opera Neighbours, played by Menik Gooneratne. The actress, who made a guest appearance in Neighbours in 2000, was given the role of Priya in July 2011. She made her first screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 1 September 2011. Three months later, it was announced Gooneratne had been promoted to the regular cast along with Sachin Joab and Coco Cherian, who play Priya's husband and daughter respectively. The Kapoor's arrival marked the show's first family with Indian and Sri Lankan heritage. They also became the first family to be introduced since 2010. Gooneratne's departure from Neighbours was announced on 12 March 2013 and she made her final screen appearance on 10 June.
Priya is a school principal, who is married to local lawyer, Ajay Kapoor (Joab). The couple married when they were young because they were expecting their daughter, Rani (Cherian). Both Priya and Ajay unintentionally put their careers before their marriage. Priya has been described as being both feisty and determined, while Gooneratne called her a high achiever and uptight. In late 2012, Priya began an affair with Paul Robinson (Stefan Dennis), a man who she initially struggled to get along with. Priya enjoyed the time she spent with Paul, because it made her feel alive again. Though she felt guilty, as she loved her husband. After Ajay found out about the affair, Priya tried to fix their relationship. However, it was not until she was harassed by a member of the school board, that she and Ajay were reunited. Priya died as a result of injuries sustained in an explosion, but she reappeared to Rani as a ghost.
Casting In July 2011, it was announced Gooneratne had joined the cast of Neighbours in the guest role of Priya Kapoor. The actress previously appeared in the show as Shanti Pandya in 2000. Gooneratne revealed that she did not have to audition for the role. She had tested for other characters months before and the producers saved her for Priya. Gooneratne made her debut screen appearance as Priya during the episode broadcast on 1 September 2011. Three months later, Daniel Kilkelly from Digital Spy reported that Gooneratne and Sachin Joab, who portrays Ajay Kapoor, would be promoted to regular cast members in early 2012. He also revealed that Coco Cherian had joined the cast as Priya and Ajay's on-screen daughter Rani.
The Kapoors became the first family to be introduced to Neighbours since the Williams' arrived in 2010. The show's then executive producer, Susan Bower, stated "I'm delighted by how the Kapoors have been introduced. Viewers already know them because of their role in the community and link with other characters, and their cultural background is secondary." Bower added that having a family of Indian and Sri Lankan heritage join the neighbourhood was very exciting. When asked by Kilkelly how she had settled in and whether she knew there would be a long-term plan for the Kapoors, Gooneratne said "The show just feels like home now, I love it. I understand the councillor role came first which Sachin [Jaob] was cast for, and then the rest of the family followed as the writers saw potential for these characters."
Development
Characterisation Priya has been described as being "pretty", "feisty" and "determined" by writers for All About Soap and Channel 5. While the Daily Star's Susan Hill called her "straight-laced" and Gooneratne deemed her "uptight, idealistic and strict." When asked if she was similar to her character, Gooneratne stated that she is not quite the high achiever Priya is. However, she is "pretty determined" like Priya when she puts her mind to it. The actress revealed that Priya was supposed to be four years older than herself, so she was aged with clothes and make-up. Gooneratne later commented that Priya was "a bit more glamorous" than she is. The actress thought Priya was quite wound up when she first appeared and everything seemed black and white to her. She also commented that Priya was craving more excitement in her life. Not long after her arrival on-screen, Priya became the principal of Erinsborough High, giving her an instant role within the community.
Marriage to Ajay Kapoor Gooneratne revealed that Priya and Ajay "had" to get married when they were both young because she was expecting their daughter, Rani. The actress thought the producers were joking at first when they told her Priya would have a teenage daughter. Priya and Ajay became a family at the same time their friends were out having fun and they then had to establish careers. The actress commented "There hasn't been a lot of down time." During an interview for Channel 5's Neighbours website, both Gooneratne and Joab agreed that Priya was the boss in the relationship as she makes all the difficult decisions. The actors also stated that the couple had "unintentionally" put their careers before their marriage, leading to cracks appearing. Joab commented that because they are busy with life, Ajay and Priya forget about living in the moment. Gooneratne also stated "Priya is the one that keeps it together, and when Ajay makes decisions without her involvement, she doesn't like it." In July 2012, Ajay purchases Number 24 Ramsay Street without consulting Priya. Joab told an Inside Soap writer that Ajay and Priya had talked about settling down in Erinsborough for a while, but it was not "a wise move" for Ajay to buy a house without discussing it with his wife first. Gooneratne later revealed that Ajay and Priya had lost their way due to their lack of communication.
Affair with Paul Robinson
Shortly after her arrival, Priya takes an instants dislike to Paul Robinson (Stefan Dennis), in what a columnist for Inside Soap called "a case of hate at first sight". On why the pair have struggled to get along, Gooneratne revealed "They are both very strong-willed people, but I think Priya does take the high moral ground which is not exactly Paul's style, so most of the time they are at odds with each other." A friendship between the pair is formed when Paul supports Priya during a school board meeting about the budget. Priya is forced to make some tough decisions about whether to cut the VET classes in favour of the academic curriculum, to save money. Sonya Mitchell (Eve Morey) is upset by Priya's choice, but Paul, who has often been against Priya's plans for the school, lends her his full support.
Priya's proposal loses the vote, but she joins Paul at Charlie's to discuss alternative plans for the budget and enjoys herself. Gooneratne said "For just a moment, they're allies. They chat about school and parenting woes, so they're on common ground for a change. It's a nice surprise for Priya, and she sees Paul in a different light." When Paul purchases an expensive bottle of wine for them, Priya becomes uncomfortable and leaves. She chooses not to tell Ajay about her afternoon with Paul, as she is "still sorting out in her own mind what all this means." The following day, Paul sends Priya some champagne and Gooneratne stated that Priya feels he has crossed a line, although she likes the attention. When asked by Digital Spy's Daniel Kilkelly if her character would have a guilt-free affair, Gooneratne thought Priya would struggle because it would go against her moral beliefs.
A few weeks later, Priya comes "perilously close" to giving into her attraction to Paul. The situation occurs after Priya engages in an angry exchange with Susan Kennedy (Jackie Woodburne) about a newspaper article featuring Erinsborough High. Paul jumps to Priya's defence, which surprises her and she tells him off for intervening. Priya states that she can fight her own battles and Paul agrees, revealing that he likes that aspect of her personality. Priya then asks Paul to stay away from her. Gooneratne told TV Week's Jackie Brygel that all Priya wanted was for Ajay to support her, but instead she got that from a man who she thinks hates her. Priya later organises a special dinner for her and Ajay, but he is forced to cancel due to work commitments. Paul then turns up on her doorstep and she almost kisses him. Gooneratne said that the moment comes out of the blue and Priya feels awful about it afterwards, especially as she considers herself to be a very loyal person. She hates herself for being tempted, but she was in "a vulnerable situation where she's feeling fragile".
Priya continues to resist Paul's advances, but she feels he is punishing her when he misses a school board meeting. When Priya confronts Paul about his behaviour, he states that she is not being honest with herself and wants him as much as he wants her. Priya then kisses Paul "passionately" and they have sex, which leaves her feeling guilty about cheating on Ajay. Gooneratne explained "Priya is really torn. She craves the time that she is with Paul, because it makes her feel like a woman and she can reconnect with that raw passion and fire. It makes her feel alive again. Then she comes home and knows all too well that she has done the wrong thing. She feels so awful for it, as she does love her husband." The actress revealed that Priya is unable to get Paul out of her mind and does decide to continue with the affair. Gooneratne commented that the further along the storyline progressed, the more fun she had had with it. Dennis added that Priya and Paul's affair was "a time bomb" waiting to go off and believed it would shake up both households.
Priya decides to end her affair with Paul and the pair meet up behind Lassiter's Hotel to say goodbye. Priya gives Paul "a spur-of-the-moment" kiss, before they go their separate ways, but they are unaware that Rani has witnessed their embrace. Gooneratne believed that the possibility of being caught out had never occurred to Priya and she thought it was careless of her character. Rani later confront her mother about what she saw and Priya tells her that she was just comforting Paul because he was upset. Cherian commented that Rani really wants to believe the story, but when Priya starts buying her gifts, she realises something is not quite right. Rani finds proof of her mother's affair with Paul and exposes it to Ajay, who initially thinks she is lying to hurt Priya. However, Priya then confirms what Rani has said, which leaves Ajay devastated." He asks Priya to leave their home, but asks her back for Rani's sake. Joab commented that Ajay does not hate his wife and thought that there might be a chance that they could get through the situation.
After Priya informs Paul that she does not want to have anything more to do with him, Paul tries to make her life difficult at Erinsborough High. During a meeting of the school board, Paul decides to bring Priya's role "into question" and states that the school deserves better.
Harassment