News Analysis India

Tag: Iman Vellani

  • Exciting to be part of culturally inclusive ‘Ms Marvel’: Farhan Akhtar

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: 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 told PTI 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.

    The actor said he was not concerned about the length of his role on the show as the focus was to be in a culturally diverse story. “I really didn’t stop to think about whether it should be longer or not. I was really happy,” he said.

    According to Akhtar, Marvel Studios has strived to deliver family entertainers with its films and now TV shows. “What Marvel has done over the years, even before the show, they’ve always strived to give very good clean family entertainment. And this series is in the same vein. I don’t think there’s any point to be made as such, but it’s a new experience for the audience. It’s a new experience for the viewer that is absolutely signed into the universe and is committed to watching what they do,” he added.

    Akhtar teased viewers about exciting things to look forward to in the upcoming episodes of the show. “As you may have noticed already that she has travelled back to the subcontinent. She’s travelled back home, there’s a lot more fun waiting for her and a lot more exciting things for the audience to watch,” he said.

    As far as his involvement in the future Marvel projects or returning to this role is concerned , the 48-year-old actor said he is open to any offer from the studio. “I feel like I’m already a part of the MCU by playing Waleed… Of course, I would love for more stuff to happen because I had an incredible time working on the show. I leave that to their best judgment. But from my end, whenever they want me to be back and do anything that they need me to for this character, I’ll be there,” Akhtar said.

    There was considerable buzz around Akhtar and Pakistani superstar Fawad Khan’s casting in the show that has been hailed for its depiction of a culturally rich story of India and Pakistan, through its numerous Bollywood and Shah Rukh Khan references, it’s positive focus on Islam and family values. “There are many generations that are touched upon through the story, as you may have noticed already. Family plays a very important role in the show,” Akhtar said.

    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.

    “Ms Marvel” also features Nimra Bucha, Aramis Knight, Saagar Shaikh, Rish Shah, Zenobia Shroff, Mohan Kapur, Matt Lintz, Yasmeen Fletcher, Laith Nakli, Azhar Usman, and Travina Springer. The show is available in English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam.

  • The fan who became a superhero

    Express News Service

    Marvel is back, and finally, with a series that feels closer to home for us. Ms Marvel, which premiered yesterday, follows the trials and tribulations of a 16-year-old Pakistani-American high school student from Jersey City who ends up with superpowers. With many references we can relate to, including Shah Rukh Khan films and parts of ‘Oh Nanbaa’ from Rajinikanth’s Lingaa getting used, the series is Marvel’s tentative look into the world of South Asian diaspora and is its first live-action content with a Muslim superhero.

    Pakistani-Canadian Iman Vellani, who plays the titular role, thought the casting call was a scam. “I sent in a rather academic resume, and the casting call turned out to be real! As we began making progress, I started making excuses out of fear of failure. But I knew that my 10-year-old self would hate me if I didn’t give it a shot. Two days later, I got another call,” recounts Iman, who was in Toronto at the time. “I was asked whether I had a lawyer. They wanted me to fly to LA, and I was like, ‘Uh, I have a math test!’ Next thing, I’m in LA with my dad. This was the greatest trip of my life, and I was fangirling over Sarah Finn and Lewis D-Esposito. Then the pandemic hit, and they sent me an email saying that they had to figure out some stuff and assured me I was still in the running. Meanwhile, I had to figure out my university on my side, and in June 2020, I sent in the last self-tape and then, we did a screen test over Zoom. They cast me when I was on the last day of high school.”

    Iman was already a big fan of the Ms Marvel comics. “I’m so excited that people can finally see what I saw when I picked up those comics for the first time and fell in love with Kamala and her world. It’s truly a love letter to all MCU fans.” Iman says Ms Marvel is a different character when compared to other superheroes in her age group. “Ms Marvel understands fan culture on a cellular level, and this elevated the storytelling in a unique way. She’s a 16-year-old kid, with super-powers which we have seen before. But she’s also a fan of every other hero within the MCU canon.

    That fascination and excitement are reflective of real-life Marvel fans; so that’s why we relate to her. She reacts like we all would if we were to get such powers,” says Iman, who goes on to explain that the series doesn’t necessarily get too drawn into the cultural, religious aspects of her personality. “I don’t think those were her main markers. They were part of her life, sure. She’s another normal girl who wakes up, goes to school, prays, and eats. We didn’t set out to make a show about a Pakistani Muslim; she is just an Avengers-loving, fanfic-writing dork, which also happens to be a Pakistani Muslim. We have balanced it all quite well.”

    Ms. Marvel is now streaming on Disney+ Hotstar.

  • The Pakistani-Canadian fan who became a superhero: Meet ‘Ms Marvel’ actor Iman Vellani

    Express News Service

    Marvel is back, and finally, with a series that feels closer to home for us. Ms Marvel, which premiered yesterday, follows the trials and tribulations of a 16-year-old Pakistani-American high school student from Jersey City who ends up with superpowers. With many references we can relate to, including Shah Rukh Khan films and parts of ‘Oh Nanbaa’ from Rajinikanth’s Lingaa getting used, the series is Marvel’s tentative look into the world of South Asian diaspora and is its first live-action content with a Muslim superhero.

    Pakistani-Canadian Iman Vellani, who plays the titular role, thought the casting call was a scam. “I sent in a rather academic resume, and the casting call turned out to be real! As we began making progress, I started making excuses out of fear of failure. But I knew that my 10-year-old self would hate me if I didn’t give it a shot. Two days later, I got another call,” recounts Iman, who was in Toronto at the time. “I was asked whether I had a lawyer.

    They wanted me to fly to LA, and I was like, ‘Uh, I have a math test!’ Next thing, I’m in LA with my dad. This was the greatest trip of my life, and I was fangirling over Sarah Finn and Lewis D-Esposito. Then the pandemic hit, and they sent me an email saying that they had to figure out some stuff and assured me I was still in the running. Meanwhile, I had to figure out my university on my side, and in June 2020, I sent in the last self-tape and then, we did a screen test over Zoom. They cast me when I was in the last day of high school.”

    Iman was already a big fan of the Ms Marvel comics. “I’m so excited that people can finally see what I saw when I picked up those comics for the first time and fell in love with Kamala and her world. It’s truly a love letter to all MCU fans.” Iman says Ms Marvel is a different character when compared to other superheroes in her age group. “Ms Marvel understands fan culture on a cellular level, and this elevated the storytelling in a unique way. She’s a 16-year-old kid, with super-powers which we have seen before. But she’s also a fan of every other hero within the MCU canon.

    “It feels like there is this new generation coming up.”Take an EXCLUSIVE look behind the scenes of #MsMarvel, our latest MCU obsession pic.twitter.com/e3NXyRycmP
    — Twitter TV is watching Ms. Marvel (@TwitterTV) June 9, 2022
    That fascination and excitement are reflective of real-life Marvel fans; so that’s why we relate to her. She reacts like we all would if we were to get such powers,” says Iman, who goes on to explain that the series doesn’t necessarily get too drawn into the cultural, religious aspects of her personality.

    “I don’t think those were her main markers. They were part of her life, sure. She’s another normal girl who wakes up, goes to school, prays, and eats. We didn’t set out to make a show about a Pakistani Muslim; she is just an Avengers-loving, fanfic-writing dork, which also happens to be a Pakistani Muslim. We have balanced it all quite well”, Iman says as she signs off.

    Ms. Marvel is now streaming on Disney+ Hotstar.

  • Marvel Studios sets premiere date for Disney Plus series ‘Ms Marvel’ 

    By PTI

    LOS ANGELES: “Ms Marvel”, Marvel Studio’s first onscreen Muslim hero, will arrive on the streamer Disney Plus on June 8.

    The studio also released the first trailer for the series fronted by newcomer Iman Vellani as Kamala Khan aka Ms Marvel, a Muslim American teenager growing up in Jersey City.

    “The future is in her hands. Ms.Marvel, an Original series from Marvel Studios, starts streaming on June 8 on @DisneyPlus.#MsMarvel,” read the tweet on Marvel Studio’s Twitter page shared on Tuesday.

    The future is in her hands.Ms. Marvel, an Original series from Marvel Studios, starts streaming June 8 on @DisneyPlus. #MsMarvel pic.twitter.com/k1s7HWOtaV
    — Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) March 15, 2022
    According to Deadline, Kamala is an avid gamer and a voracious fan-fiction scribe with an oversized imagination — particularly when it comes to Captain Marvel (played by Brie Larson in the Marvel Cinematic Universe).

    Yet Kamala feels she doesn’t fit in at school and sometimes even at home, until she gets superpowers like her idols.

    “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.

    Bisha K Ali, a scribe and stand-up comic known for her personal-political comedy, serves as head writer on the project.

    Aramis Knight, Saagar Shaikh, Rish Shah, Zenobia Shroff, Mohan Kapur, Matt Lintz, Yasmeen Fletcher, Laith Nakli, Azhar Usman, Travina Springer and Nimra Bucha also round out the cast of “Ms Marvel”.

    Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso and Ali serve as executive producers.

    Co-executive producers for the series are Sana Amanat and Trevor Waterson.

    First appearing in the comics in 2014, Ms Marvel was created by G Willow Wilson, artiste Adrian Alphona, and editors Sana Amanat and Stephen Wacker.

  • Disney Plus series ‘Ms Marvel’ adds Laurel Marsden to cast

    By PTI
    LOS ANGELES: Actor Laurel Marsden, best known for starring in Quibi’s “Survive”, has joined the cast of the Disney Plus series “Ms Marvel”. Newcomer Iman Vellani stars in the title role of Ms Marvel aka Kamala Khan, Marvel Studios’ first Pakistani-American teen superhero.

    According to Deadline, Marsden will play Zoe Zimmer in the series. Zimmer is something of frenemy to Ms Marvel; a popular girl at Coles Academic High, the superhero first saves her in the Hudson River. Zimmer dates the school’s star athlete Josh Richardson.

    Bisha K Ali is the head writer of the series chronicling the story of the New Jersey-based superhero who possesses the power of shape shifting and healing factor.

    “Bad Boys for Life” filmmaker duo Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah are attached to direct along with two-time Oscar documentary short winner Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, and “The Walking Dead” director Meera Menon.

    “Ms Marvel”, who debuted in 2014 as Marvel’s first Muslim character to lead a comic book title, follows teenager Kamala Khan who tries to find her own way as a Pakistani American living in a religious family.

    The character was created by G Willow Wilson, artiste Adrian Alphona, and editors Sana Amanat and Stephen Wacker. Also starring Saagar Shaikh, Aramis Knight, Matt Lintz, Zenobia Shroff, Mohan Kapur, and Nimra Bucha, “Ms Marvel” is slated to be released later this year.