Tyrion Lannister's doppleganger found in IoK

Tariq Mir now dreams to meet Peter Dinklage

While Peter Dinklage who plays Tyrion Lannister in the hit TV series Game of Thrones has made a name for himself around the world, his lookalike has been spotted in Indian-occupied Kashmir (IoK). He has been found by none other than ace film-maker Imtiaz Ali, reported Mumbai Mirror.

Tariq Mir is a 30-year-old actor who was living a life of anonymity till Ali turned him into an overnight celebrity. Ali was in the IoK valley for a film festival in February when his relative Khawar Jamshed introduced him to Mir. The Jab We Met director then snapped a picture with him and uploaded it on social media with a caption, "With Tyrion Lannister" - bearing an uncanny resemblance to Dinklage who plays the character in Game of Thrones.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BfXYY3JHh-g/?hl=en&taken-by=imtiazaliofficial

However, a while before his viral photo broke the internet, Mir had already started earning a living as a Lannister lookalike. And it was Jamshed who gave him the big break. He said, "I first met Tariq when he was auditioning for a clown’s role at a children’s event. I instantly realised that this guy looks exactly like Peter Dinklage. He struck me as a happy, innocent man … all he knows is how to make people laugh. I suggested that we take him on for the event as a Dinklage lookalike instead of a clown. People went crazy when they saw him."

Mir was unaware of who Dinklage was but he leaped into the offer. "My first reaction after seeing Tyrion Lannister was to thank God for making me look like him. I also thank Khawar, who trusted me and has invested in me. Whatever I am today, it is because of him," the 30-year-old shared.

PHOTO: MUMBAI MIRROR

Hailing from Anantnag, Mir has sharper features than his 48-year-old American doppleganger - making him look older. He studied acting and moved to Srinagar to look for work. Speaking of how times have changed, Mir said that he was earlier offered minor roles and it took a long time to find work.

However, with this new advancement, Mir said, "Now, I have become famous. It has given me and other actors in the valley hope that we can accomplish big things. I recently played Tyrion in a short film and now it is my dream to meet him."

PHOTO: HINDUSTAN TIMES

Mir continued that he spends about three hours everyday watching Dinklage's video and trying to imitate his style, stating that he was an inspiration for every dwarf. He also admits that he's grateful for everything he has gotten. Mir explained, "We are God’s gift, people love us. We entertain them and they pay us for making them laugh."

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