Mistry was born in Scarborough, North Riding of Yorkshire, England, to a father of Indian descent and an Irish mother. He attended St James' Catholic High School in Cheadle Hulme (1985–88) before his family moved to Cardiff where he attended Radyr Comprehensive School. Mistry trained at the Birmingham School of Speech and Drama.
Mistry lived with Meg Leonard from 1993; they married in 2001 and divorced in March 2010. They have one daughter, Elin Leonard Mistry, born 13 May 2001. He resides in Jacobs Well, Surrey with his wife, Dancer Flavia Cacace, his professional dance partner on Strictly Come Dancing in 2010. The couple married in December 2013.
In 2010, Mistry competed in the eighth series of BBC One's Strictly Come Dancing, partnered with Flavia Cacace. The couple were eliminated after week 6.
Mistry first gained exposure playing Dr Fred Fonseca on BBC TV's EastEnders, and has since worked on film and stage. His work includes starring roles in East Is East, The Guru with Heather Graham and Marisa Tomei, Blood Diamond opposite Leonardo DiCaprio, Guy Ritchie's RocknRolla and Partition with Kristin Kreuk. He can be seen in the film 2012 from Director Roland Emmerich opposite John Cusack, Danny Glover, Amanda Peet and Thandie Newton, and the BAFTA-nominated movie Exam.
Mistry joined the soap Coronation Street in November 2013 as Khalid Nazir, a fitness coach and former soldier.
