Kaleem Janjua (born 1944 in Pakistan) appeared on Coronation Street in two roles: firstly in June 1989 as shopkeeper, Mr Gupta; and he returned to the programme intermittently between March and April 2001 as Suresh Parekh (the role was recast to Ash Varrez when the character returned in 2004.
He moved to Rochdale shortly before his twenty-first birthday and was employed as a labourer at Turner Brothers. He then moved to Manchester in 1966, where he got a job as a bus conductor. Having gained a LLAM Acting Diploma at Manchester University, he left the city in 1982 to pursue his dream of becoming an actor.
His other television credits include roles in Juliet Bravo, Langley Bottom, The Bill, Heartburn Hotel, Dinnerladies, Casualty, Metropolis, Doctors, EastEnders, Little Crackers, In the Club and This Is Going to Hurt.
Film roles include Wild West, The Fifth Element, East Is East and Take 3 Girls.
On stage, he appeared in a 1997 production of All's Well That Ends Well for the Oxford Stage Company.
While for radio, he is known for the recurring role of Mani Ray on Silver Street for the BBC's Asian Network.
