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Adeel Akhtar
ActorBorn September 18, 1980 (45 years)
Akhtar is known for the bumbling Muslim extremist Faisal in Chris Morris's film Four Lions. Other comedic performances include Gupta in The Angelos Epithemiou Show, Maroush in The Dictator and Smee in Joe Wright and Pan.
Akhtar has also won acclaim for his dramatic performances: in 2015, he was nominated for a BAFTA for Best Supporting Actor for his 2014 role as Wilson Wilson on Channel 4's Utopia. He played shopkeeper Ahmed alongside Toby Jones in the BBC mini-series Capital, and DS Ira King in the BBC's River. Reviewing River in The Daily Telegraph, Michael Hogan wrote, "This series was beautifully written by Abi Morgan, stylishly directed, and most of all, superbly acted. The quieter, less showy supporting players also shone. Not just stalwarts [...] but fresher faces: Adeel Akhtar as River's endlessly patient sidekick and Georgina Rich as his psychiatrist".
In 2016 Akhtar appeared as Shahzad in the BBC one-off drama Murdered by My Father. He won the 2017 BAFTA award for Lead Actor for this role, the first non-white actor to do so. He also appeared as Rob Singhal in the acclaimed BBC miniseries based on John le Carré's The Night Manager.
Adeel became a patron of Half Moon Theatre in autumn 2016.
Akhtar has also won acclaim for his dramatic performances: in 2015, he was nominated for a BAFTA for Best Supporting Actor for his 2014 role as Wilson Wilson on Channel 4's Utopia. He played shopkeeper Ahmed alongside Toby Jones in the BBC mini-series Capital, and DS Ira King in the BBC's River. Reviewing River in The Daily Telegraph, Michael Hogan wrote, "This series was beautifully written by Abi Morgan, stylishly directed, and most of all, superbly acted. The quieter, less showy supporting players also shone. Not just stalwarts [...] but fresher faces: Adeel Akhtar as River's endlessly patient sidekick and Georgina Rich as his psychiatrist".
In 2016 Akhtar appeared as Shahzad in the BBC one-off drama Murdered by My Father. He won the 2017 BAFTA award for Lead Actor for this role, the first non-white actor to do so. He also appeared as Rob Singhal in the acclaimed BBC miniseries based on John le Carré's The Night Manager.
Adeel became a patron of Half Moon Theatre in autumn 2016.
Known For
Adeel Akhtar Filmography
| 2025 | Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone · as Argus Filch |
| 2025 | Down Cemetery Road (TV Series) · as Hamza Malik |
| 2024 | Black Doves (TV Series) · as Prime Minister Eaves |
| 2024 | Fool Me Once (TV Series) · as Sami Kierce |
| 2023 | The Puppet Asylum · as The Narrator |
| 2023 | Murder Mystery 2 · as The Maharajah |
| 2022 | Enola Holmes 2 · as Lestrade |
| 2022 | Sherwood (2022) (TV Series) · as Andy Fisher |
| 2022 | Save the Cinema · as Tom |
| 2021 | Robin Robin · as Dad Mouse (voice) |
| 2021 | Showtrial (TV Series) · as Sam Malik |
| 2021 | The Electrical Life of Louis Wain · as Dan Rider |
| 2021 | Ali & Ava · as Ali |
| 2021 | Sweet Tooth (TV Series) · as Dr. Aditya Singh |
| 2021 | Everybody's Talking About Jamie · as Iman Masood |
| 2020 | Enola Holmes · as Lestrade |
| 2020 | The Nest · as Steve |
| 2019 | Murder Mystery · as The Maharajah |
| 2019 | Back to Life (TV Series) · as Billy |
| 2018 | Andrew Davies: Rewriting the Classics · as Thenardier |
| 2018 | Les Misérables (2018) (TV Series) · as Thénardier |
| 2018 | Swimming with Men · as Kurt |
| 2018 | Killing Eve (TV Series) · as Martin |
| 2017 | Counterpart (TV Series) · as Casper |
| 2017 | Ghosted (TV Series) · as Dr. Barry Shaw |
| 2017 | Victoria & Abdul · as Mohammed |
| 2017 | The Big Sick · as Naveed Nanjiani |
| 2017 | Hampstead · as Donald's Lawyer |
| 2017 | Apple Tree Yard (TV Series) · as Jaspreet |
| 2017 | Unforgotten: Sins of the Past · as Hassan Mahmoud |
| 2017 | Unforgotten: Building the Series · as Hassan Mahmoud |
| 2016 | The Last Dragonslayer · as Mr. Brittles |
| 2016 | The Circuit · as Gabe |
| 2016 | Flowers (TV Series) · as Doctor |
| 2016 | Murdered by My Father · as Shahzad |
| 2016 | The Night Manager (TV Series) · as Rob Singhal |
| 2015 | Capital (2015) (TV Series) · as Ahmed |
| 2015 | River (TV Series) · as Ira King |
| 2015 | Pan · as Sam "smee" Smiegel |
| 2015 | Unforgotten (TV Series) · as Hassan Mahmoud |
| 2014 | War Book · as Mo |
| 2013 | Convenience · as Shaan |
| 2013 | Keeping Up with the Joneses · as Jerry |
| 2013 | The Tunnel (TV Series) · as Anwar Rashid |
| 2013 | Jadoo · as Vinod |
| 2013 | The Job Lot (TV Series) · as George Dhot |
| 2013 | Utopia (TV Series) · as Wilson Wilson |
| 2012 | The Dictator · as Maroush |
| 2011 | The Angelos Epithemiou Show (TV Series) · as Gupta |
| 2011 | Trollied (TV Series) · as Ray |
| 2010 | Stranger Things · as Mani |
| 2010 | Four Lions · as Faisal |
| 2010 | Side by Side · as Isaac |
| 2008 | Traitor · as Hamzi |
| 2007 | Comedy Showcase (TV Series) · as Gupta |
| 2006 | Conviction (TV Series) · as Darpan Banerjee |
| 2003 | Coming Up (TV Series) · as Baz |
| 2002 | Let's Roll: The Story of Flight 93 · as Saeed Al Ghamdi |
| 2001 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent (TV Series) · as Hazim |
| 2022 | Save the Cinema: Behind the Curtain · as Self - Guest |
| 2021 | Kurupting the Industry: The People Just Do Nothing Story · as Self - Bafta 2017 Audience Member |
| 2017 | Unforgotten: Domestic Turmoil · as Self |
| 2006 | The ONE Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2005 | Made In Hollywood (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2000 | BBC Breakfast (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |