Farhan Akhtar talks about his connection to Mehwish Hayat's Aisha in 'Ms Marvel'
Indian actor and director Farhan Akhtar says he is glad he got to be part of a show that marked the debut of a Muslim superhero on screens. The Bollywood star, who is receiving a lot of love for his portrayal of Waleed in episode four of Ms Marvel, albeit, is tightlipped about his character.
“I am not allowed to answer,” Farhan, whose character is the leader of the Red Daggers, a vigilante group, told India Today. Waleed helps Kamala Khan against Clandestines, lead by Najma in the show. While fans loved his action-packed Hollywood debut, many felt Farhan’s screentime was too less. “People must enjoy Kamala’s journey, that’s what’s important,” he opined.
Kamala, played by Iman Vellani, is a Pakistani-American teenager who’s inspired by Captain Marvel. She inherits a bangle from her great grandmother which helps her discover her super powers. And to trace its origin, she ends up in Karachi, where she meets Waleed who tells her that she’s actually a Djinn.
About Marvel’s decision to finally introduce a Muslim superhero, Farhan added, “I consider myself lucky to have been part of the very first Muslim superhero show Marvel ever created. There is so much love coming in for Kamala. Ms Marvel will open doors for more such content. There has to be a first and it happens to be now. We should all be thankful that it is happening and we look forward to some more fun times.”
In an interview with A V Club, Farhan also opened up about his first impression of Iman, the show directors and MCU. “A lot of the work was done by the writers, [director] Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, and [executive producer] Sana Amanat. They had already created a huge backstory for Waleed by the time I came on board. It helped me understand the character a lot more with details like, when did he first cross paths with Aisha [Mehwish Hayat], when did he first see the bangle, and what is his own history? By the time I came to shoot, I had understood who Waleed is and what his purpose is in Kamala’s story.”
He added, “It really was important for him to be there for Kamala and therefore, for me as an actor, to be there for Iman. She is carrying this show and is doing an incredible job of it. She’s a naturally gifted actor. Apart from the knowledge Waleed has to impart to her, I was also focused on getting the audience to feel that Waleed does have affection for the girl and not just the bangle. He recognises there’s something special in her.”
About the depiction of the partition of the subcontinent, which drew praise and ire, Farhan shared, “The Partition had a direct impact on Kamala’s family, from Aisha to her grandmother. Of course, there’s learning about what happened between India and Pakistan, but how organically it ties in with the narrative of the characters is really important to see as well.”
Ms Marvel is the first time a Muslim superhero has been put at the helm by a major production banner – Marvel Studios. It has also led to discussions about ethnic representation and the understanding, as well as portrayal, of South Asian culture and sentiments on screen.
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