WHEN Neeraj Pathak left Bolton School it was a forgone conclusion he would go into the family business.

He was, after all, the elder son of Kirit and Meena Pathak, who owned the world famous Patak's Indian food manufacturing company, and Neeraj had grown up surrounded by boxes and jars bearing the easily recognisable label.

But despite this natural progression, Neeraj opted for a change of career in his late twenties and is now a respected actor who is building an impressive portfolio.

He is currently starring in The Brighton Fringe Festival playing Jay, who is the lead character in the play In a Better Place.

Coincidentally Jay and his wife, Priya, are the driving entrepreneurs behind a successful food business.

Neeraj — who uses the stage name Jace Desay because there is a Bollywood actor who shares his name — left the family business (The Pathaks are a Bolton family whose factory was in Leigh) to attend the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.

He had long held a keen interest in drama and knew it was the career he wanted even though he had held many positions in the family business, including that of board director.

As a Clevelands School pupil, at the age of just 10, Neeraj was packing boxes and getting involved in the business that his grandparents Shanta and Lakshmishankar Pathak had started.

"I had always loved acting and am really pleased to be fulfilling my dream," says the 37-year-old, who lived most of his life in Heaton.

Neeraj is the eldest of three children. His sister, Anjali, is 33 and is still the brand consultant for Patak's, despite the family selling the business.

His younger brother, Nayan, who is 35 years old, works in finance.

Despite being London-based, Neeraj often visits Bolton — the town holds fond memories for him and he still calls it home despite his parents now dividing their time between India and Dubai.

"I have friends in Bolton and I love to catch up with them. I love Bolton and love to come back," he says, and is planning a trip to the town next week.

Neeraj has appeared in Coronation Street and the acclaimed US show 24.

Outside work he is a keen adventurer, having scaled the highest mountains on two continents, sailed across the Atlantic and gained his pilot's licence.

He also loves to ski, snowboard and scuba dive.