Guppy Sharma

Name: Guppy Sharma
First Appeared: 16th October 1995
Last Appeared: 4th April 1996
Played by: Lyndam Gregory

Guppy Sharma strutted into Walford in October 1995 with a business proposition for market trader Gita Kapoor: supply her with mock designer clothing at cut prices. While Gita’s husband Sanjay was away tending to a dying relative, a flirtatious relationship blossomed between Guppy and Gita. However, Gita’s suspicions were piqued when Guppy was beaten up by his former employer—an angry sweatshop owner who didn’t appreciate Guppy setting up shop on his own. Guppy remained tight-lipped about his current business partner, only fueling Gita’s curiosity.

Undeterred by the beating, Guppy continued to woo Gita with flowers and attempted kisses. His mystery partner was soon revealed as Gita’s estranged sister, Meena McKenzie. Gita had disowned Meena two years earlier for having an affair with Sanjay. Meena, hoping to reconcile with Gita, had persuaded Guppy to offer Gita competitive business deals. However, tensions flared when Meena discovered Guppy had been wooing Gita. Despite Meena’s anger and disbelief that Guppy’s feelings for Gita were anything but pity, she decided to proceed with her plan to marry Guppy.

Things took a turn when the Kapoors ended their business arrangement with Guppy just as they were caught selling counterfeit goods by market inspector Lesley McManus. Guppy bribed Lesley, but the police witnessed the transaction and arrested both men. When Guppy resurfaced, he informed Sanjay that his wedding to Meena never happened. He then convinced Sanjay to invest £2,000 in a business venture, only to abscond with the money, leaving Sanjay in debt to a loan shark.