The girl from Hollywood

Zoha Rahman is a British-Pakistani actress who is quickly rising to fame in the country. The budding star is known for her role as a hijabi in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Spider-Man: Far From Home. She is currently starring in the Apple TV+ production Foundation and is also seen in Kabir Khan’s film ‘83.

This week BOLD is in conversation with the beautiful and talented Zoha Rahman.

1. How did you get into acting?

Growing up, I always knew I wanted to be an actor. I loved putting on little plays with my friends and even though I was extremely shy I was always up first for school plays and assemblies and continued to perform on stage till I graduated. During my studies I started modelling on the side, which led to some commercials. And one of the directors for a commercial asked me to audition for his film. I got the lead role and that was my first professional acting experience.

2. What have you studied?

I read Law at SOAS in London, I then got an unconditional offer to complete my LLM in Intellectual Property Law at the Queen Mary University of London which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Advertisement
3. Usually when people start their careers, they move from Pakistani content to Bollywood and then Lollywood, a bit in your case, you started with Hollywood then Bollywood and are now exploring the avenues here, what has the experience been like? Where did it all start?

It may seem like there is step 1, step 2, and step 3 but there is no ‘right’ path to success. I go where the opportunities take me, both in a literal and figurative sense. I’m very open to exploring and challenging myself. I have been blessed with amazing experiences in the infancy of my acting career, with credits in Marvel, Netflix, Apple TV, Bollywood, and now Lollywood, and this is consistent with my view of what art is. Art has no boundaries, no borders, and no nationality. It should just make us all feel something and allow us to escape. I hope I continue to work on this global scale, I absolutely love experiencing different sets and cultures and perspectives.

4. Where did it all begin? What was the first gig like?

My first gig I played a violinist and we explored themes of music therapy, sacrifice for family and immigration. It was challenging for someone who had only done commercials and still shoots, but because I was so keen to learn and the team was so patient I picked up information very quickly and thoroughly enjoyed the process.

5. We can currently spot you on-air locally in Dil-e-Momin, are there any new projects in the pipeline?

Yes! There are a few new projects currently in post-production phases. Since wrapping Dil-e-Momin in September, I have completed my first horror feature opposite Arjun Mathur in London and I am currently filming an exciting show opposite Sami Khan in Pakistan. And InshAllah more opportunities are coming my way!

Advertisement
6. Having acted at all platforms i.e plays, movies, OTT platforms, dramas, what’s your most preferred platform and why?

This is a tough one! I miss the stage, but I like the ease of the screen. I do love films, probably because you have a bit more freedom and its exciting seeing yourself in a cinema and having a premier. At the end of the day, it’s more about the character for me than the platform, whether it’s for a movie or a drama, the performance aspect is ultimately the decision-maker.

7. Describe a role that you really want to do?

I would love to do a conflicted character, something entirely different to who I am myself. And it would be super fun to play a superhero or a villain!

8. When you ventured into the local industry, a lot of actors feel un-appreciated during their initial years in this industry. What has your experience been like?

I don’t see it as under appreciation, I see it as an opportunity for me to learn and go out of my way to perfect my acting. Acting for me is not about others and what they think about me, I would never be able to perform with that mindset, it’s about me, how I justify the decisions of my character and how I portray their struggles and celebrations.

Advertisement
9. Any actor you’d love to pair up within a project?

My dream is to work with Dwayne Johnson or Will Smith. Viola Davis is another huge favorite of mine!

10. One thing you’d like to change about the industry and where it’s at currently?

There is always room for improvement, but if I had to narrow it down I would definitely want fresher content ideas. We have seen the same story dressed up differently for years. We need some brave writers!

11. What is success to Zoha?

Contentment. Not stressing about the next move and not looking back and wishing I’d done more. Just being content and happy.

Advertisement
12. Working in Bollywood’s 83, walk us through the experience, how did you get the role, what was the experience like? Were you star-struck?

I was asked to audition for Shrikanth’s wife originally! When the director saw my audition he wanted me to take on this more extensive role, which I didn’t know until I got my contract. Upon confirmation, I filmed a week in London and a week in Scotland. It was fun working with Kabir, he was a great director and gave me creative freedom to make my character what I wanted. I still laugh because he was adamant that I grew out my eyebrows to get the 80s look! Meeting Ranveer was great too, and the rest of the cast. It really felt like a family towards the end.

13. You are also a voice-over actor, having lent your voice to various projects, how did that come along? Did you first start off as a voice actor and then ventured into acting? Or was it the other way round?

I kind of fell into voice, I did a few voice overs for commercials because I am very good at accents. I then invested in a good mic and set up a small VO studio at home for my own podcast ‘LKKG Podcast’, Log Kya Kahenge, and then I did some characters on podcast series. I narrated my first book a few months ago which I thoroughly enjoyed, seeing it trending on Audible and other platforms was a new kind of excitement because people were commenting about how they liked my voice!

14. Any advice for the younger lot who is about to venture into this industry?

The newer generation is growing up with a lot of digital freedom, I had to wait for someone to make something to cast me. But now, you can pick up your phone and record your favourite monologues and just put them up. Or you can even make your own film and post it. If you want to act, go and act! Make your own luck, don’t wait on others.