At the age of 23, Devi had secretly travelled to London to become an actress, telling only her two sisters, and enrolled at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.

For a brief period, she worked at London Films with Alexander Korda, and in 1938, she appeared on stage for the first time, when she played the role of a Turkish slave girl.

At the onset of the Second World War, Devi sat the St John Ambulance examinations and qualified in first aid.

In 1943, she was appointed permanently within the BBC Radio's Overseas Service Division, and in 1951, she reported on the 30th anniversary of the 1921 Northern Ireland general election.

Following a road trip to India in 1958, she narrated a film by the explorer Count Vitold de Golish, Twilight of the Maharajahs, for the BBC in their Adventure series.

[7] In 1934, she was noted to "have done exceptionally well" as an owner of dogs at the Tail-Waggers Club,[9] and she was known to feel more comfortable in her jodhpurs during the day and a saree for formal wear.

[10] Devi had saved her allowances and following her departure against her father and grandfather's wishes, had supposedly been the centre of much gossip in India.

[19] At the onset of the Second World War, Devi sat and passed the St John Ambulance first aid examination, and subsequently transported casualties during the Blitz.

[18] In 1941, she became political correspondent for the India team of the BBC, with George Orwell as the talk producer, and with the aim at enlisting Indian support for the War.

[22][27] From the House of Commons, where she was sometimes the only woman in the press gallery,[8] she analysed and broadcast weekly reports to India in a programme called The Debate Continues.

[37] That year, the Daily Mirror published a photograph of Devi changing the tyre of a caravan, also carrying Paul; they were preparing to drive to India.

[38] In 1962, following her return from India, she narrated a film by the explorer Count Vitold de Golish, Twilight of the Maharajahs, for the BBC in their Adventure series.