Muslim world lauds Riz Ahmed's Oscar nod

Many along local celebs congratulated Pakistani-British actor for being first Muslim actor to bag Best Actor category

Riz Ahmed, who plays the role of a drummer with hearing impairment in Sound of Metal, made history on Monday by becoming the first Muslim to ever be nominated in the leading actor category at the Academy Awards.

Although Mahershala Ali was the first Muslim actor to win an Academy Award, he nabbed Grammys in the Best Supporting Actor category for his performance in 2017’s Moonlight and 2019’s Green Book. With these, he became the first Muslim actor to win an Oscar and the first black actor to win two Academy Awards.

But before Riz, no Muslim actor had managed to receive an Oscar nod in a leading category, such as the Best Actor, and no actor of Pakistani descent had made it to the Oscars. So, many Pakistani stars have been celebrating his momentous feat and congratulating him.

"It's a brilliant achievement; it's a great achievement. He's is very talented but I didn't appreciate how he was singled out as the first Muslim to have bagged an Oscar for Best Actor… which left me a little uncomfortable," Ahsan Khan shared with The Express Tribune. "It should just have been that he was just a Hollywood actor who delivered a stellar performance and was lauded for it."

"Pakistan and Pakistanis prove again and again that we excel in every and all fields we put our heart into," Faysal Quraishi commented. "Riz Ahmed, so proud of you and best of luck! Pakistan Zindabad."

“Riz Ahmed! Represent,” tweeted Mansha Pasha.

Riz Ahmed! Represent 💯 https://t.co/69AF6hfRB1

— Mansha Pasha (@manshapasha) March 15, 2021

Sanam Saeed wrote, “Congratulations, friend! A proud moment; you totally deserve it! Go on then… keeping making waves and bringing about a change.”

Congratulations dosst! Proud moment, you totally deserve it. Go on then keeping making waves and bringing about change! @rizwanahmed ⚡🙌

— Sanam Saeed (@sanammodysaeed) March 17, 2021

The most interesting of the congratulatory messages, however, was Mehwish Hayat’s, who made sure to point out that being the first Muslim to earn a Grammy nomination should never have been the story. But in a non-inclusive world, becoming the first of a race or religion to nab an acknowledgment of this kind has to be the news.

.@rizwanahmed being the 1st Muslim to get nominated shouldn't be the story. It should be abt performance. Bt let's accept in a 🌏where we’re fighting 4 fairer representation in mainstream media a Muslim nominated for Best Actor for the 1st time since1929 is one hell of a big deal pic.twitter.com/1ap2s4MQ3j

— Mehwish Hayat TI (@MehwishHayat) March 16, 2021

“Rizwan Ahmed being the first Muslim to get nominated shouldn't be the story. It should be about performance,” she tweeted. “But let's accept that in a world where we’re fighting for fairer representation in mainstream media, a Muslim being nominated for the Best Actor for the first time since 1929 is one hell of a big deal.”

This year’s Oscars also marked the first time two Asian actors were nominated in the Best Actor category as nine of the 20 acting nods went to non-white performers. These included Riz and South Korea’s Yuh-Jung Youn of Minari, in what US showbiz publication Variety described as the most diverse acting Oscars slate ever.

Riz Ahmed. PHOTO: REUTERS

“Never in my dreams did I ever think a Korean actress would be nominated for an Oscar, and I can’t believe it’s me!” Youn, who played the role of a mischievous granny, said in a statement, reported Reuters.

Speaking to the Los Angeles Times about being the first Muslim actor to have bagged a nomination for a leading role, Ahmed shared, "To be honest, I just feel like however people can find themselves at this moment, however, they can find a connection to this moment, is beautiful to me. Some people may connect to the fact that it’s the first Muslim, some people might say British-Pakistani, some people might say the first person from Wembley in London."

He went on to add, "What matters to me is that these moments of celebration, these moments of collective recognition, are actually moments whereas many people as possible can recognise themselves in it. And so that’s all that really matters to me. And I’m really pleased if this is an opportunity for more people than ever before to connect to a moment like this."

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