What's new

Report on Famous Pakistani Hollywood Actor, Riz Ahmed [VIDEO]

alized

alized

Tape Ball Regular
Joined
Sep 19, 2018
Runs
543
Here’s a report on a Pakistani actor from Britain who’s making a wave in Hollywood. Been around for only a few years, and has a pretty hefty resume. He starred recently released blockbuster film “VENOM”, which has hit $200 million box office during the first week. We don’t usually see non-Whites and non-Blacks making it this far in Hollywood. It’s great to see a fellow country man becoming this successful in the American entertainment industry.

 
Very good actor. I remember first seeing him in 'The Road to Guantanamo' in which i think he gave a brilliant performance, possibly still his best to this date. Then there was 'Four Lions' which was a very funny movie. It's nice he has stuck with his identity and never shys away from it as others have when becoming famous. Looking forward to seeing him in Venom.
 
He also played the protagonist in "The Reluctant Fundamentalist", movie based on Mohsin Hamid's infamous novel. Did a pretty decent job though he completely lacked chemistry with his romantic interest played by Kate Hudson. Hudson, for some reason became a brunette for the movie, a very unnatural look. Live Schreiber is good in the movie too.
 
saadibaba said:
He also played the protagonist in "The Reluctant Fundamentalist", movie based on Mohsin Hamid's infamous novel. Did a pretty decent job though he completely lacked chemistry with his romantic interest played by Kate Hudson. Hudson, for some reason became a brunette for the movie, a very unnatural look. Live Schreiber is good in the movie too.
Click to expand...

they don't wanna picture us brown guys with a blondie :afridi
 
Pakistanian said:
they don't wanna picture us brown guys with a blondie :afridi
Click to expand...

Lol, maybe so, but a poor choice indeed. I have been impartial about Kate Hudson but to her credit she has managed to stay in super-fit shape and came out with an exercise/yoga clothing line a few years back. Overall, an ok actress. In this particular movie though, she looked out of place.
 
Talking Of Riz, he played a gem of a role in the Nightcrawler as a sidekick to Gyllenhaal. A very understated role.
 
Pakistanian said:
they don't wanna picture us brown guys with a blondie :afridi
Click to expand...

They already have done that. LOL. Some people might’ve liked it, but I found it appalling. Check out the US-based Pakistani actor, Kumail Nanjiani’s “The Big Sick”.
 
alized said:
They already have done that. LOL. Some people might’ve liked it, but I found it appalling. Check out the US-based Pakistani actor, Kumail Nanjiani’s “The Big Sick”.
Click to expand...

oh yeaah but zoe kazan ain't no kate upton
 
Pakistanian said:
oh yeaah but zoe kazan ain't no kate upton
Click to expand...

Yea, it was a total mis-cast. When watching romantic comedy, one should be expecting to see a beautiful beautiful woman. Zoe’s acting was superb, though. Almost Oscar-worthy. But I didn’t really enjoy her in the movie. Maybe my expectations may be too Bollywood-like.
 
Last edited:
alized said:
They already have done that. LOL. Some people might’ve liked it, but I found it appalling. Check out the US-based Pakistani actor, Kumail Nanjiani’s “The Big Sick”.
Click to expand...

That's the biggest role any Pakistani origin actor has got imo,it was a very good movie and very maturely handled.

Ray Romano as usual was amazing.
 
Riz also sings ,his sweet shop boys (with Heemz) produce some amazing songs.

Easily the most likeable Brit-Desi.
 
JaDed said:
Riz also sings ,his sweet shop boys (with Heemz) produce some amazing songs.

Easily the most likeable Brit-Desi.
Click to expand...

Really agree you on that. His role in Nightcrawler really upped his rep in the Hollywood industry. Despite all the fame, he’s kept close to his roots.

Here’s a production by him:

Other Brit-Desis I can think of are Zayn Malik, who’s liked but isn’t very much “Desi”. And Amir Khan who is very Desi, but he isn’t really liked that much by some people in the boxing world.
 
He does love Pakistan for sure much to the disappointment of many "desi'" and "asians" whoever they are:uakmal.


https://dailytimes.com.pk/206854/pakistan-like-first-love-hollywood-actor-riz-ahmed/



Emmy Award Winner Hollywood actor Riz Ahmad said that Pakistan is like his ‘first love’, adding that he feels emotional coming back to the country.

“Pakistan has a rich culture which I have always loved. Therefore, I wanted to come here again and again.”

Riz was addressing the jam-packed session of Lahore Literary Festival (LLF) 2018 titled ‘MC Activist’ with renowned Pakistani writer Mohsin Hamid. Riz Ahmad further said that he had been in Pakistan in 2005 when he was just 13-year-old. I was stopped at Peshawar Cantt but later released on the condition that I would rap for the army soldiers, he said. “At that time I thought that Pakistanis took poetry too seriously.”

Riz referred to Pakistan as his ‘ex’, adding that the country has changed a lot since he last visited.

Riz also shared some of the harsh memories he faced in his childhood while living in London. He shared with the audience how he was bulled for his middle class background, for his religion and for his ethnicity. While commenting on the world politics, he said, “I don’t have any other choice but to engage with the issues of racism, migration, domestic violence, women’s issues, hatred because these issues had always touched my heart.

Ahmad stressed on the need for meaningful interactions between Pakistanis and Pakistan diaspora. I would be pleased if the artists of Pakistan collaborate with me and other diaspora, he said. Author Mohsin Hamid observed that Lahore takes writings seriously. For me, reading and listening is like encountering other human beings,” he added.

Published in Daily Times, February 25th 2018.
 
DeadBall said:
Token British "actor".
Click to expand...

That is more of a comment on western audiences and their palate for Asian actors at this point. Blacks used to get token roles a generation ago, they have moved on a lot since then. There is a sense of "token" about this award, but at least that is an acknowledgement that we need to move beyond token Asian roles.
 
He deserved an Oscar for his role in nightcrawler. What a performance! What a guy, what a story!
 
Rana said:
He deserved an Oscar for his role in nightcrawler. What a performance! What a guy, what a story!
Click to expand...

Hopefully we can see more of him leading in blockbuster films. He can easily become the next deCaprio, but actually win Oscars.
 
So he is Pakistani now? Many Pakistani don't like the 7/7 bombers being called Pakistani as they were born/raised in Britain yet want some claim on Rid Ahmed. I think he is amazing and is staying true to himself. Unlike Amir Khan who tries to display a pious image yet is tabloid fodder with his chasing of women.
 
Was brilliant in night crawler and someone who’s worked hard to get where he’s at

Also hats off to him for being true to himself and his identity
 
Decent actor and average rapper who's cashing on the cultural liberalism ("leftism") current in modern Hollywood to establish his career, just look at how he assimilates SJW tropes/identity politics.

Salma_T said:
So he is Pakistani now? Many Pakistani don't like the 7/7 bombers being called Pakistani as they were born/raised in Britain yet want some claim on Rid Ahmed. I think he is amazing and is staying true to himself. Unlike Amir Khan who tries to display a pious image yet is tabloid fodder with his chasing of women.
Click to expand...

That's the hypocrisy, esp. when you know that someone like Amir Khan would never have been a top boxer (or even a boxer to begin with) in Pak considering the opportunities/infrastructure.
 
enkidu_ said:
Decent actor and average rapper who's cashing on the cultural liberalism ("leftism") current in modern Hollywood to establish his career, just look at how he assimilates SJW tropes/identity politics.



That's the hypocrisy, esp. when you know that someone like Amir Khan would never have been a top boxer (or even a boxer to begin with) in Pak considering the opportunities/infrastructure.
Click to expand...

Cashing in would be if started that now he has been a rapper and actor since the start. He has done many indi films he is 35 therefore his adult life has been post 9/11 and he rapped about it since then.

In terms of Amir Khan if UK didn't allow him.to fight he would have fought for Pakistan in 2004 Olympics.
 
Salma_T said:
Cashing in would be if started that now he has been a rapper and actor since the start. He has done many indi films he is 35 therefore his adult life has been post 9/11 and he rapped about it since then.

In terms of Amir Khan if UK didn't allow him.to fight he would have fought for Pakistan in 2004 Olympics.
Click to expand...

Yes I'm aware of his career as both actor and musician, that's not the point, the point is that in today's US if you talk of "minorities representation", "diversity", etc you become a sort of Malcolm X, and he's cashing on that to sell his image, you can see it easily in his rhetoric gimmicks whenever he appears on a major live show.

And Amir Khan would have perhaps fought for PK but still got all his training, infrastructure, etc in the UK. He's a British product.

Bewal Express said:
What part of PK did his family come from?
Click to expand...

Karachi.
 
Zaz said:
Was brilliant in night crawler and someone who’s worked hard to get where he’s at

Also hats off to him for being true to himself and his identity
Click to expand...

Exactly. He so won the audience with his simple self in that role to the point that the audience could care less about his racial identity. Top class
 
saadibaba said:
Talking Of Riz, he played a gem of a role in the Nightcrawler as a sidekick to Gyllenhaal. A very understated role.
Click to expand...

I knew I remembered his name from somewhere, thanks for reminding me.

Was fantastic in this film, sadly I reckon he was overshadowed by the fact that the leads performance was just ridiculously good and everyone forgot about the supporting actor!
 
Surprised that no one has mentioned The Night Of, HBO TV series. Not only was the series good but Riz gave a very solid performance in that.
 
Salma_T said:
So he is Pakistani now? Many Pakistani don't like the 7/7 bombers being called Pakistani as they were born/raised in Britain yet want some claim on Rid Ahmed. I think he is amazing and is staying true to himself. Unlike Amir Khan who tries to display a pious image yet is tabloid fodder with his chasing of women.
Click to expand...

Are there any Pakistanis making a claim on him? He's a British product only his heritage is Pakistani, I don't think he himself has ever tried to present himself as anything else. There again, his parents are probably Pakistanis who migrated to Britain so it would be disingenuous to claim there is no Pakistani link either.
 
why are people so obsessed with putting him in a box, hes british, hes ethnically pakistani, he works in america, but he actually puts some thought into how he portrays himself because although he wd pbly not want to admit it, hes a representation of a certain demographic that gets more than its fair share of stick in the msm.

the irony is he, himself, would pbly not want to boxed into a categorisation of who is, and as long as he continues to get that message across, he could self identify as a martian for all i care.
 
ElRaja said:
why are people so obsessed with putting him in a box, hes british, hes ethnically pakistani, he works in america, but he actually puts some thought into how he portrays himself because although he wd pbly not want to admit it, hes a representation of a certain demographic that gets more than its fair share of stick in the msm.

the irony is he, himself, would pbly not want to boxed into a categorisation of who is, and as long as he continues to get that message across, he could self identify as a martian for all i care.
Click to expand...

You hit the nail on the head with that last line. Riz is the first Asian actor who is starting to move beyond stereotype roles ( see Citizen Khan for example) and is starting to make a name for himself in varied roles. This has been a long time coming and it will go a long way to multiculturalism's victory in the first world and smashing the neo nazi revival.
 
Salma_T said:
So he is Pakistani now? Many Pakistani don't like the 7/7 bombers being called Pakistani as they were born/raised in Britain yet want some claim on Rid Ahmed. I think he is amazing and is staying true to himself. Unlike Amir Khan who tries to display a pious image yet is tabloid fodder with his chasing of women.
Click to expand...

of course he's Pakistani lol, he identifies as such and isn't any different from a lot of us on this forum that were born and raised in a western country. You could actually turn your logic around and say that Britons don't consider Pakistani origin people British when they commit crimes but the moment they do something good then they're suddenly British. The samething was said about the French world cup team and african immigrants.
 
Pakistanian said:
of course he's Pakistani lol, he identifies as such and isn't any different from a lot of us on this forum that were born and raised in a western country. You could actually turn your logic around and say that Britons don't consider Pakistani origin people British when they commit crimes but the moment they do something good then they're suddenly British. The samething was said about the French world cup team and african immigrants.
Click to expand...

Perfect reply
 
Cpt. Rishwat said:
Are there any Pakistanis making a claim on him? He's a British product only his heritage is Pakistani, I don't think he himself has ever tried to present himself as anything else. There again, his parents are probably Pakistanis who migrated to Britain so it would be disingenuous to claim there is no Pakistani link either.
Click to expand...

The title of the thread.....he is like most British actors at the moment.....public school educated (he was on a scholarship) and been to Oxbridge.
 
This is more about about how Pakistani and US based Pakistani treat British Pakistanis. A sense of not wanting be to associated yet when you have a riz ahmed thry want to claim him.....He has regular mentions on Pakistani entertainment websites compared to say Zayn Malik. That is the perspective I am talking about he is part of that generation like me whose parents arrived in the UK and they liveed the 2 or 3 identities
 
Salma_T said:
This is more about about how Pakistani and US based Pakistani treat British Pakistanis. A sense of not wanting be to associated yet when you have a riz ahmed thry want to claim him.....He has regular mentions on Pakistani entertainment websites compared to say Zayn Malik. That is the perspective I am talking about he is part of that generation like me whose parents arrived in the UK and they liveed the 2 or 3 identities
Click to expand...

I don't know what you're goin on about. I don't see how Pakistani Americans and Pakistanis in Pakistan are "treating" Brit Paks. I'm not sure what you mean by "2 or 3 identities", that's the story of most immigrants.
 
We are everything and nothing.....not quite British enough and not quite Pakistani......the lost generation the term applied to second gen immigrants
 
Salma_T said:
We are everything and nothing.....not quite British enough and not quite Pakistani......the lost generation the term applied to second gen immigrants
Click to expand...

why does anyone have to conform to being either/or, why not be both or neither. saying we are lost implies being either completely suddenly means something, it doesn't, we are who we are, and the labels exist to make life easier for others to contextualise our idiosyncrasies.

at the end of the day the label is an external construct, and should be subordinate in importance to our (people in general) sense of self, and if the label doesnt fit the construct so be it, it just means we'll have to be interesting enough as people to motivate others to get to know us.
 
Salma_T said:
We are everything and nothing.....not quite British enough and not quite Pakistani......the lost generation the term applied to second gen immigrants
Click to expand...

First of all you look in the mirror then you'll get a good answer, also this identity thing isn't unique to Brit Paks, it's an immigrant thing all over the world and even more so in America since we're so good at assimilating here, I feel like British Pakistanis have retained a lot of Pakistani culture and are more Pakistani than us across the atlantic.

Riz isn't even second gen, his parents are immigrants which makes him first generation by our american definition. His folks are also from Karachi who I believe are a minority in the British Pakistani community who tend to come from different communities.
 
He isnt Pakistani per se so I'd say British-Pakistani
 
[MENTION=142256]Pakistanian[/MENTION]

Identifying as British is completely different as to identifying as American. The countries are so stark when it comes to immigration and diversity. America is the land of immigrants, 99% of American people are descendant from an immigrant of some sort. And Britain is the land of very few immigrants (albeit in the millions).

The majority of British culture is rooted and identified with the White Anglo race. Kings, queens, Christianity, feudal lords, cricket, imperialism, etc. Non-whites are rarely to found in any part of British history apart their from imperial antics around the world.

It is much easier for the Pakistani, or any immigrant race for the matter, to assimilate in America. Because there are more people like us and similar to us. Hispanics for example-are great friends. They are an assimilated group of brown skinned people with a rich culture and great personalities. Compare this to Britain. Your only options in terms of friendship is an un-assimilated Pakistani distant cousin, or a bland culture-shocking white guy named Charles.
 
Last edited:
Pakistanian said:
First of all you look in the mirror then you'll get a good answer, also this identity thing isn't unique to Brit Paks, it's an immigrant thing all over the world and even more so in America since we're so good at assimilating here, I feel like British Pakistanis have retained a lot of Pakistani culture and are more Pakistani than us across the atlantic.

Riz isn't even second gen, his parents are immigrants which makes him first generation by our american definition. His folks are also from Karachi who I believe are a minority in the British Pakistani community who tend to come from different communities.
Click to expand...

It is a common theme in immigrants across the globe.....mentioned British and Pakistani as that is what is being discussed here.
 
He is second generation as he is born to immigrant parents as per most definitions
 
alized said:
[MENTION=142256]Pakistanian[/MENTION]

Identifying as British is completely different as to identifying as American. The countries are so stark when it comes to immigration and diversity. America is the land of immigrants, 99% of American people are descendant from an immigrant of some sort. And Britain is the land of very few immigrants (albeit in the millions).

The majority of British culture is rooted and identified with the White Anglo race. Kings, queens, Christianity, feudal lords, cricket, imperialism, etc. Non-whites are rarely to found in any part of British history apart their from imperial antics around the world.

It is much easier for the Pakistani, or any immigrant race for the matter, to assimilate in America. Because there are more people like us and similar to us. Hispanics for example-are great friends. They are an assimilated group of brown skinned people with a rich culture and great personalities. Compare this to Britain. Your only options in terms of friendship is an un-assimilated Pakistani distant cousin, or a bland culture-shocking white guy named Charles.
Click to expand...

The majority of American culture is also rooted and identified with the white Anglo race if you are going to go down that road. What language do they speak? Who do you think voted Trump into power?
 
Salma_T said:
He is second generation as he is born to immigrant parents as per most definitions
Click to expand...

lol no, the first generation is the first generation to be born and raised here, if your parents grew up in Pakistan and moved to another country then they're immigrants. The generation that was born in a new country is the first generation, that's most countries definition. You can't just get off the boat become first gen :)) , you have to grow up here, go to school here.
 
Cpt. Rishwat said:
The majority of American culture is also rooted and identified with the white Anglo race if you are going to go down that road. What language do they speak? Who do you think voted Trump into power?
Click to expand...

America is more of a melting pot.
 
alized said:
[MENTION=142256]Pakistanian[/MENTION]

Identifying as British is completely different as to identifying as American. The countries are so stark when it comes to immigration and diversity. America is the land of immigrants, 99% of American people are descendant from an immigrant of some sort. And Britain is the land of very few immigrants (albeit in the millions).

The majority of British culture is rooted and identified with the White Anglo race. Kings, queens, Christianity, feudal lords, cricket, imperialism, etc. Non-whites are rarely to found in any part of British history apart their from imperial antics around the world.

It is much easier for the Pakistani, or any immigrant race for the matter, to assimilate in America. Because there are more people like us and similar to us. Hispanics for example-are great friends. They are an assimilated group of brown skinned people with a rich culture and great personalities. Compare this to Britain. Your only options in terms of friendship is an un-assimilated Pakistani distant cousin, or a bland culture-shocking white guy named Charles.
Click to expand...

yeah america is a nation of immigrants so we don't have to conform to one ethnic group. Also the fact the fact that America birthright citizenship means anybody born here is America, it isn't the same case in Britain.
 
Pakistanian said:
America is more of a melting pot.
Click to expand...

It's a melting pot where white Anglo culture is dominant and has been since it's creation. WASPs are top of the hierarchy still, although their power has been eroded over the last 50 years, hence the backlash and rise of Trump.
 
Cpt. Rishwat said:
It's a melting pot where white Anglo culture is dominant and has been since it's creation. WASPs are top of the hierarchy still, although their power has been eroded over the last 50 years, hence the backlash and rise of Trump.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't call it anglo culture, morelike European culture cause white people in America come very diverse backgrounds. There's a lot of German, Irish, and Italian influence. In fact most white Americans have German heritage.
 
Pakistanian said:
I wouldn't call it anglo culture, morelike European culture cause white people in America come very diverse backgrounds. There's a lot of German, Irish, and Italian influence. In fact most white Americans have German heritage.
Click to expand...

They don't speak German do they? They speak English, hence Anglo culture.
 
Pakistanian said:
what's anglo culture though? America has taken over anglo culture and now even the English have become Americanized.
Click to expand...

Well that's true. We didn't have hot dogs or burgers over here until the invasion of American tv, those are both probably mutated dishes from Germany or Poland or whatever. We had shepherd's pie and fish and chips....and even the first fried fish shop was supposed to have been started up by a Jewish immigrant. :(
 
Cpt. Rishwat said:
Well that's true. We didn't have hot dogs or burgers over here until the invasion of American tv, those are both probably mutated dishes from Germany or Poland or whatever. We had shepherd's pie and fish and chips....and even the first fried fish shop was supposed to have been started up by a Jewish immigrant. :(
Click to expand...
America has substantial and much richer Black culture than England. Fried chicken, mashed potatoes, apple pie, sport of basketball, rap music, etc.
 
Pakistanian said:
what's anglo culture though? America has taken over anglo culture and now even the English have become Americanized.
Click to expand...

“Thats facts right there bruh. We got the mo’ lit form of English. Like for real fam. Yo slide down the block to one of tha brudas and cop like a ounce of 2. That sh*t fire. Give it a hit.”
 
Cpt. Rishwat said:
Well that's true. We didn't have hot dogs or burgers over here until the invasion of American tv, those are both probably mutated dishes from Germany or Poland or whatever. We had shepherd's pie and fish and chips....and even the first fried fish shop was supposed to have been started up by a Jewish immigrant. :(
Click to expand...

yeah america has really influenced all western countries. American fashion like jeans, hoodies, shirts, american music like hip hop and r&b, hollywood and american fast food and retail culture is now immitated in other english speaking countries.
 
Pakistanian said:
lol no, the first generation is the first generation to be born and raised here, if your parents grew up in Pakistan and moved to another country then they're immigrants. The generation that was born in a new country is the first generation, that's most countries definition. You can't just get off the boat become first gen :)) , you have to grow up here, go to school here.
Click to expand...

1st gen are immigrants and then second generation are those who have atleast one parent born overseas. So both are correct it shall about perspective.
 
alized said:
[MENTION=142256]Pakistanian[/MENTION]

Identifying as British is completely different as to identifying as American. The countries are so stark when it comes to immigration and diversity. America is the land of immigrants, 99% of American people are descendant from an immigrant of some sort. And Britain is the land of very few immigrants (albeit in the millions).

The majority of British culture is rooted and identified with the White Anglo race. Kings, queens, Christianity, feudal lords, cricket, imperialism, etc. Non-whites are rarely to found in any part of British history apart their from imperial antics around the world.

It is much easier for the Pakistani, or any immigrant race for the matter, to assimilate in America. Because there are more people like us and similar to us. Hispanics for example-are great friends. They are an assimilated group of brown skinned people with a rich culture and great personalities. Compare this to Britain. Your only options in terms of friendship is an un-assimilated Pakistani distant cousin, or a bland culture-shocking white guy named Charles.
Click to expand...

Cracked me up :)))
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Savak
Pakistani government needs to announce and implement a blanket no-compromise ban on all things Indian in Pakistan
Replies
22
Views
627
Technics 1210
Technics 1210
MenInG
Veteran Pakistani actor Shakeel passes away at age 85
Replies
6
Views
940
Colorblind Genius
Colorblind Genius
MenInG
Wasim Akram set to make his acting debut with Money Back Guarantee
Replies
11
Views
2K
MenInG
MenInG
MenInG
Qatil Haseenaon Ke Naam - India’s Zee is banking on a Pakistani show for its success
Replies
10
Views
2K
PakLFC
P
MenInG
Post of the Week: In memory of our dear departed friend, DHONI183
Replies
10
Views
2K
Poseidon
P
Back
Top