Exciting to be part of culturally inclusive 'Ms Marvel, says Farhan Akhtar
It’s not the length of the role but the excitement to be a part of Marvel Studios’ first steps in the South Asian subcontinent that motivated actor-filmmaker Farhan Akhtar to join Ms Marvel, a show he believes is landmark in the way it represents “our cultures and our people”. Akhtar, known for directing acclaimed films Dil Chahta Hai, Lakshay and Don series as well as for his on screen performances in movies Luck by Chance, Rock On!! and Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, has made his Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) debut with the Disney+ Hotstar show.
When he was first offered Ms Marvel, the actor said he was bowled over by the cultural inclusivity and diversity of the show, which centres around Kamala Khan aka Ms Marvel, a Pakistani-American teenager growing up in Jersey City. “When I found out that the show was the very first step that Marvel is taking into the subcontinent, creating a subcontinent superhero that is going to represent our cultures and our people, I was very excited,” Akhtar said in a virtual interview.
“I truly wanted to be a part of it because it is a landmark show. And I feel that it’s important because it’s diverse. There’s an incredible amount of cultural inclusivity that’s happening via the show,” he added.
Fronted by newcomer Iman Vellani, Ms Marvel is a coming-of-age story of a Muslim teenager who discovers that she has superpowers and a family history going all the way back to India-Pakistan Partition in 1947.
Bad Boys for Life helmers Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, a two-time Oscar winner in the documentary short category, and Meera Menon, who has worked on shows like The Walking Dead, have directed the episodes of the series.
Akhtar features in the fourth episode of the show, titled Seeing Red, directed by Obaid-Chinoy. He essays the role of Waleed, a senior member of an organisation called Red Dagger. Waleed acts as a mentor to Kamala when she lands in Karachi to meet her maternal grandmother and uncover the mystery behind her superpowers.
While the Bollywood actor-director has a significant role in the fourth episode of the series, Fawad Khan makes a blink-and-you-miss-it appearance in a family portrait that Kamala’s grandmother shows her.
The show is available in English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam.
