Haz Devkar

Hari 'Haz' Devkar
Occupation	Fictional character
Years active	2023–2024
Known for	Character on Australian soap opera Neighbours

Hari 'Haz' Devkar is a fictional persona featured in the Australian soap Neighbours, brought to life by actor Shiv Palekar. His first appearance was on 18 September 2023, with his casting revealed on 7 June 2023. Haz was introduced following the series’ cancellation and subsequent revival by Amazon Freevee. He takes on the role of manager at Harold's Café and shares a residence with Mackenzie Hargreaves (portrayed by Georgie Stone) and Byron Stone (Xavier Molyneux). The creative team established Mackenzie as his romantic interest, while Haz also forms a connection with Trevor, a pet Groodle appearing in his initial storylines. Described as "a true community figure" who prioritizes honesty and fairness, Haz embodies themes of connection and moral integrity.

His romantic arcs include relationships with Billie Alessio (Georgia Walters) and Holly Hoyland (Lucinda Armstrong Hall), featuring a love triangle involving Mackenzie. In 2024, the narrative further explores Haz and Mackenzie’s relationship, leading to their marriage and joint departure from the show. Initially depicted as an amiable café proprietor, Haz’s intricate history involving cybercrime emerges as a central plot element. Storylines delve into hacking incidents, AI-driven attacks, and deepfake technology impacting those close to him. The antagonist Wade Fernsby (Stephen Phillips), who suffered due to Haz’s past actions, seeks vengeance through escalating cyber assaults culminating in a car crash that leaves Haz unconscious. To enrich his familial background, Haz’s sister, Amira Devkar (Maria Thattil), was introduced. Additionally, Haz appears in episodes set against the backdrop of the Australian outback.

After a year on the series, Palekar exited Neighbours alongside Mackenzie, concluding their storyline with a wedding and relocation to Paris. Palekar commended Haz’s journey as one of redemption while staying true to the character’s essence. His final appearance aired on 17 September 2024. Writer Shane Isheev acknowledged Haz’s "unrealized potential" and expressed disappointment over his brief presence. Critics responded favorably to Haz’s relatable demeanor and engaging cybercrime plots.

Casting

The audition process for Haz took place prior to Neighbours’ return following its 2022 cancellation and reboot by Amazon Freevee. Actor Shiv Palekar, originally from India and raised in Hong Kong, familiarized himself with the series during auditions since he was previously unfamiliar with it. Viewing Jackie Woodburne’s portrayal of Susan Kennedy in the finale convinced him of the show's importance and inspired him to join the revived cast.

Palekar’s appointment as Haz Devkar was publicly announced on 7 June 2023 through the show’s social media channels. A spokesperson for Neighbours stated, "We are delighted to reveal that Shiv Palekar will be joining us as Haz Devkar in upcoming episodes later this year." It was disclosed that Haz would oversee operations at Harold's Café. Promotional photos released by Fremantle Australia featured Palekar alongside Ian Smith, known for his role as Harold Bishop, the café’s original proprietor. Haz is part of several new additions introduced following the series’ renewal by Amazon Freevee.

Palekar made his debut as Haz on 18 September 2023. He remarked on the irony of portraying a café manager given his own experience working in hospitality between acting jobs, describing it as "somewhat triggering" but "less demanding than actual café work."

Introduction and Mackenzie

Upon his arrival in the series, Haz resides at Number 32, sharing a home with established characters Mackenzie Hargreaves (portrayed by Georgie Stone) and Byron Stone (Xavier Molyneux). The three have been cohabiting for a brief period of three months. According to Palekar in an interview with Total TV Guide, Haz moved to Erinsborough to take over management of Harold's coffee shop. Originally from Geelong, Haz sought a shared living arrangement. Although the cast initially found it challenging to explain the friendship between these characters due to their "very different work lives," Stone remarked that they share a strong rapport. Palekar characterized Haz as "a genuine community-oriented individual."

Haz's introduction as the new café proprietor is marked by scenes alongside former owner Harold Bishop. Palekar described Haz as a "coffee enthusiast" who often attempts to sway customers' drink choices but is lenient with those he favors. The café's interior boasts fresh décor, which Harold enthusiastically endorses. Palekar praised the interactions between Haz and Harold as "beautiful moments."

The writers positioned Haz as a potential romantic interest for Mackenzie, who is portrayed as a widow ready to move forward after the passing of her husband, Hendrix Greyson, two years prior. Stone referred to their developing relationship as "really cool," highlighting some of her most cherished scenes with Palekar. One memorable moment involves them bonding beside a pool at night, engaging in profound conversations about life—a scene Palekar cited as one of his favorites.

In Ramsay Street Revelations, Stone emphasized the importance of Mackenzie exploring romance again, describing their initial connection as a "will they? won't they?" dynamic. She depicted Mackenzie as being attracted to Haz's kindness, authenticity, humor, and grounded personality—traits that offer contrast to her previous emotional trauma. Palekar expressed that Haz holds "the utmost respect and admiration" for Mackenzie, valuing qualities such as honesty, fairness, and altruism that he recognizes in her. He also mentioned that Haz tends to idealize Mackenzie, sometimes to his own disadvantage.

Initially, Mackenzie conceals her emotions; however, Haz encourages her to pursue dating, which leads her to meet Eden Shaw (Costa D'Angelo). The storyline temporarily shifts away from the Haz-Mackenzie romance by pairing Haz with Billie Alessio (Georgia Walters). This relationship ends swiftly as Haz prioritizes his dog Trevor over Billie.

Love triangle

The plot thickens with the arrival of Haz and Mackenzie's mutual friend, Holly Hoyland (Lucinda Armstrong Hall). Both women, emotionally impacted by Eden, seek solace in Haz. A Neighbours publicist revealed to Inside Soap that Mackenzie had harbored romantic feelings for Haz over several months, known only to Sadie Rodwell (Emerald Chan). Following difficulties with Eden, both Mackenzie and Holly view Haz as their ideal partner. While Holly's efforts to win over Haz are unsuccessful, the publicist disclosed that Haz feels a stronger attraction toward Mackenzie, which contributed to the end of his relationship with Billie.

Haz enters into a relationship with Holly; however, Holly grows increasingly jealous of Mackenzie's closeness with him. This tension escalates during a Christmas celebration where gift exchanges underscore the strong connection between Haz and Mackenzie. A publicist explained that despite months of ambiguous signals between Haz and Mackenzie, Holly may become collateral damage due to their unresolved feelings. In a fit of jealousy, Holly destroys a scarf handmade by Mackenzie for Haz but initially blames the dog. After confiding in Byron, Holly plans to come clean. Nonetheless, Haz uncovers video evidence of her actions first and confronts her; Holly admits she is aware of his feelings for Mackenzie.

The love triangle reaches its climax during the Christmas Day episode focusing on the fraught relationships among Haz, Mackenzie, and Holly. An argument between Holly and Mackenzie results in Holly accidentally falling into a swimming pool, from which Haz rescues her. Overcome with guilt, Haz reconciles with Holly; however, she refuses to forgive Mackenzie and demands that one of them leave their shared residence.

In January 2024, Neighbours announced plans to further develop the romantic storyline between Haz and Mackenzie. After his breakup with Holly and complications involving his dog Trevor, Mackenzie's support helps Haz navigate these challenges, leading to the official beginning of their relationship.

Cyber crime and accident

In 2024, Neighbours delved into cybercrime narratives centered on Haz, highlighting themes such as hacking, AI-driven assaults, and deepfake technology. The plotline commenced with the robbery and vandalism of Harold's Café, which was promoted as the series' major storyline for March. Haz becomes entangled in suspicion after receiving a video that seemingly implicates him in the damage, raising questions about whether he or an identical twin brother is responsible. Early scripts hinted at the existence of Haz’s identical sibling, adding layers to the unfolding mystery.

Following this, several deepfake attacks targeted individuals close to Haz: Aaron Brennan received a phone call from his late husband, while a fabricated video of Jane Harris circulated online. These incidents were eventually uncovered as deepfakes orchestrated by an unidentified antagonist. A misleading clue suggested Haz might have deliberately destroyed his own café for insurance fraud. To deepen the intrigue, producers introduced Stephen Phillips portraying Wade Fernsby, a figure connected to Haz, while Mackenzie began investigating Haz’s suspicious activities.

The subsequent cyberattack involved Holly losing ten thousand dollars that mysteriously appeared in Haz’s bank account. A publicist noted this storyline would shed light on Haz’s "questionable IT background." Detective Andrew Rodwell traced the crimes back to malware secretly installed on residents’ smartphones. When Mackenzie discovers this malicious software on her device, she uncovers a hard drive that implicates Haz. He confesses to previous cyber offenses including hacking and creating deepfakes but pleads for time to resolve the current predicament. Mackenzie grapples with his betrayal and contemplates notifying law enforcement.

A car accident storyline ensues when Haz is struck by a vehicle driven by Mackenzie. Promotional images depicted Wade intimidating Haz during a tense pursuit. Wade coerces Haz into committing further cybercrimes; although Haz intends to accept consequences, he disappears to assist Wade. Unaware of the peril, Mackenzie reports Haz to authorities and joins Karl Kennedy in searching for him. Palekar explained that Haz left voluntarily to prevent escalation and shield Mackenzie from Wade’s threats.

Wade eventually discovers that Haz is wearing a wire and forces him into a confession. During their chase, Haz collides with Mackenzie’s car and sustains critical injuries. The crash leaves him comatose, with his heart briefly stopping; friends gather at his bedside while Mackenzie remains steadfastly supportive. Palekar described the accident as disorienting for Haz, blurring his grasp on reality.

The stunt-intensive sequence received acclaim for its execution, with Palekar expressing enjoyment in performing it. This accident storyline strengthened the bond between Haz and Mackenzie; Stone remarked it underscored her character’s deep care for him. Writer Shane Isheev regarded the AI saga as one of his favourite narratives involving Haz, commending Palekar’s performance for embracing the material and subverting audience expectations.

Family

The writers expanded on Haz’s relationship with his dog Trevor, continuing Neighbours' tradition of featuring pets prominently. Trevor is a Groodle—a cross between a Golden Retriever and Poodle—portrayed by Bodie, an animal actor provided by the agency "Paws on Film" and trained by Luke Hura. Despite Bodie's intelligence, he was prone to distraction during filming. Palekar described Trevor as "gorgeous" and an "agent of chaos" who often stole scenes.

In January 2024, Haz’s claim to Trevor was challenged when Alyssa Gavalas (Imogen Sage), the dog’s original owner, appeared. Recognizing Trevor—whose actual name is Bodie—Alyssa seeks to reclaim him, prompting Haz to seek legal counsel and hide the dog indoors. A publicist explained that losing Trevor would be deeply distressing for Haz because Alyssa reveals that the dog was a gift from her late mother to her son Max Gavalas (Jethro Cassar). Ultimately, Haz faces a "heartbreaking choice" and returns Trevor to the Gavalas family; however, George Gavalas (Phil Hayden) later returns Trevor back to Haz.

In December 2023, writers introduced Haz's older sister Amira Devkar (Maria Thattil), described as "occasionally bossy," who arrives for an emotional reunion marked by unresolved issues stemming from their strict upbringing. Amira holds Mackenzie responsible for Haz’s coma and claims she is protecting her brother but conceals ulterior motives due to their strained relationship. Thattil revealed Amira experiences guilt and internal conflict over distancing herself from Haz after his criminal history caused family estrangement.

The sibling relationship remains fraught; while Haz seeks reconciliation, tension persists as Amira clashes with Mackenzie. Amira disrupts Mackenzie’s support during Haz’s legal struggles, leading to retaliation and Amira’s departure which escalates tensions further. Later casting announcements introduced Mark Silveira and Camille Gautam as Sanjeev and Reena Devkar—Haz’s parents—completing the family unit's introduction.

Outback week

On 4 July 2024, it was revealed that Haz would be featured in a special episode event titled "Death in the Outback." This storyline centers on multiple characters located in a remote Australian outback setting where one character's death remains undisclosed before broadcast. Alongside Haz appear Mackenzie, Holly, Toadie Rebecchi (Ryan Moloney), Melanie Pearson (Lucinda Cowden), Heath Royce (Ethan Panizza), and Tess Carmichael (Anica Calida). Holly and Heath journey into the outback first; when they lose contact, Haz and Mackenzie fly out to investigate. Marketed as "Outback week," promotional materials included trailers highlighting key plot points such as Haz's arrival.

Armstrong Hall and Cowden described this week as featuring "spectacular visuals" and intense storytelling comparable to shooting an independent feature film. Palekar called filming "an absolute highlight" of his tenure on Neighbours, noting remote South Australian locations including scenes shot aboard a small six-seater aircraft equipped with a cameraman capturing unique aerial shots of the landscape.

Within these episodes, Haz and Mackenzie charter a flight to Mount Harper before searching for Holly at a cattle station in Warrawee but become lost themselves. Significant moments include witnessing Heath’s fatal crocodile attack alongside Holly and Mackenzie sustaining injuries from a stray bullet. Following these events, Mackenzie is hospitalized during recovery but subsequently falls ill again and collapses into Haz’s arms.

Wedding and departure

On 5 September 2023, it was announced that both Palekar and Stone would be departing Neighbours later that month. Palekar expressed sadness about leaving while praising the cast, crew, and story arcs; he described portraying Haz as "a wonderful experience." He emphasized that Haz's journey represented themes of second chances and redemption while highlighting his authenticity.

The concluding storyline follows Mackenzie's decision to accept employment in Paris; Haz agrees to relocate with her and resume his career in technology, putting their café up for sale. Writers chose a positive resolution culminating in a wedding ceremony in response to Stone's desire for an uplifting ending for Mackenzie. The wedding plot featured dramatic elements including Wade's revenge scheme and initial refusal of attendance from Haz's parents. Wade was reintroduced specifically to facilitate this narrative arc; Felix Rodwell uncovered an attempt at sabotage targeting Haz's car.

Despite initial conflicts, the Devkar family reconciles as Sanjeev and Reena decide to attend the wedding—a moment Palekar noted as significant progress in their familial relationships. The ceremony sees Haz and Mackenzie marry before loved ones with Susan officiating. Wade's revenge plan ultimately fails; the couple departs safely for Paris while Terese Willis crashes the tampered vehicle at episode end.

Palekar and Stone completed filming their final scenes two weeks prior to their exit from Neighbours. Palekar's last appearance aired on 17 September 2024. He envisioned promising futures ahead for both characters—Haz pursuing cybersecurity work while Mackenzie advances at the UN. Writer Shane Isheev reflected on the impact of Haz despite his relatively brief role and lamented that more potential remained unexplored.

Reception

Upon debuting, a journalist from Who described Haz as "a charming 24 year old." Ellis from Inside Soap labeled him a "nice-guy neighbour." Stephen Patterson of Metro predicted that Haz had "all the makings of a fan-favourite," expressing early admiration for the character. His colleague Michael Adams praised promotional wedding images as "heart-warming," noting how challenges such as cybercrime plots and serious injuries tested Haz and Mackenzie's relationship. Mike Watkins from ATV Today highlighted Holly's ultimatum toward Haz as pivotal drama, humorously commenting on their brief breakup followed by reconciliation.

Susannah Alexander of Digital Spy characterized the incident where Haz was hit by a car as "shocking" and "horrifying," marking an intense climax to the storyline involving him and Wade. Daniel Kilkelly referred to the cybercrime arc as a "baffling new mystery" introducing significant twists; Sara Baaller described it simply as "mysterious." Kilkelly later dubbed their departures "heartwarming exit scenes" following what he called a "joyous ceremony."

Pip Ellwood-Hughes from Entertainment Focus observed how the cybercrime narrative transformed perceptions of Haz—from initially one of the kindest characters into someone whose increasingly odd behaviour puzzled viewers. Ellwood-Hughes described those weeks as "bumpy," expressing curiosity about his family background after revelations challenged his previously good-guy image. Michael Darling of Whattowatch.com ranked Haz's cybercrime history seventh among top storylines during Neighbours' first year on Amazon Prime Video; he highlighted audiences’ surprise at discovering that the friendly café owner was actually an adept hacker with a murky past culminating in tragedy.