Adeel Akhtar has opened up about his journey as a British South Asian actor, the challenges of racial identity, and the emotional discovery of his family's migration history in a new episode of BBC's Who Do You Think You Are. The 45-year-old actor, known for roles in Four Lions, Sherwood, and Black Doves, became the first non-white male to win the BAFTA for Best Lead Actor, a milestone he describes as 'late in the day'.
Early struggles and identity
Akhtar recalled his teenage years at a predominantly white boarding school, where he had to navigate his racial and cultural identity alone. 'That was a bit tough, just trying to work out your racial and cultural identity in a space where you had to work it out for yourself before you presented it,' he told Metro. Early in his career, he often faced stereotypical roles and felt pressured to conform to a 'template' of how he should present himself. 'That was an obligation that was put on me by the industry, but you have to be self-determined in the idea of who you are and what you represent,' he said.
Uncovering family history
In Who Do You Think You Are, Akhtar traces his mother Mumtaz's story: she emigrated from Kenya to Britain at age 16 to avoid an arranged marriage, later meeting his Pakistani father at Heathrow Airport. The actor described the experience as 'a real gift to my mum,' as it allowed her to share her migration story in depth. 'There is that thing coming from the diaspora, where you're not really afforded the space to really share the story of migration because you have to crack on with it,' he explained. Travelling to Nairobi, he uncovered systemic racism and attempted apartheid faced by his ancestors, as well as their resilience. His great-great-grandfather founded an all-girls school that his grandmother later attended.
Representation and legacy
Akhtar hopes his career inspires others to 'keep telling their stories,' citing South Asian trailblazer Hanif Kureishi as a major influence. 'He was just unapologetically himself, had his perspective on the world, and would only ever express himself through that perspective of who he was,' Akhtar said. Reflecting on his own journey, he added: 'I'm a product of immigration. I'm a product of people having struggled to get to where they are. I look at my mum and I just go: "oh, I hope I'm doing it some justice."'
Looking forward
Despite the serious themes, Akhtar enjoys exploring genres like thrillers, where he can 'give into your fantasies and just run around a bit.' He described Black Doves as 'a departure from the real world' where characters 'get blown up and just brush themselves off.' Adeel Akhtar's episode of Who Do You Think You Are airs at 9pm on BBC One and streams on BBC iPlayer.
