Riz Ahmed, known for his acclaimed performances and collaborations with director Aneil Karia, recently took a moment to reflect on his Oscar journey and his latest projects. Ahmed won the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film in 2022 for the poignant film, *The Long Goodbye*, which he co-created with Karia. The actor expressed that he promptly gifted the prestigious award to his mother, though he admits he has not seen the statuette in some time.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/riz-ahmed-1-b34f9ac9b4144f959ce3fb377acef65d.jpg)
In an interview, the 43-year-old actor revealed that his mother cherishes the Oscar and has placed it among her treasured possessions. “I went and handed it straight to my mum,” Ahmed shared, explaining that she is the first to receive any accolades he achieves. While he appreciates the award, he quipped, “I actually haven’t seen it for a while, so I’m hoping she knows where it is, ’cause I don’t.”
*The Long Goodbye*, which earned them the Oscar, portrays a family watching the escalation of political unrest from their home in London, culminating in a shocking invasion by armed assailants. The film addresses themes of violence and societal tensions, and Ahmed drew upon his own experiences growing up in the same neighbourhoods depicted in the short. This familiarity continues as he takes on the lead role in the new film adaptation of Shakespeare’s *Hamlet*, a venture he undertook alongside Karia.
Ahmed commented on how his mother is meticulous about her belongings, adding, “She doesn’t like me rearranging her stuff. It’s a very kind of elaborate scheme. She’s hidden it in a place where I don’t know. I might throw out a box that has it in it or something.” This lighthearted anecdote underscores the significance of family in Ahmed’s life, particularly in relation to his successes.
Reflecting on his career post-Oscar, Ahmed noted that the recognition has served as a form of encouragement rather than a definitive measure of success. “These markers of external validation are wonderful as tokens of encouragement and affirmation,” he said. He also acknowledged the vulnerability artists experience when sharing their stories and how fleeting such accolades can be. “We’re all sensitive when we put ourselves out there, trying to share a private and vulnerable part of ourselves,” he explained.
In addition to *Hamlet*, which is currently in cinemas, Ahmed has been active with his own production company, Left Handed Films. He described his recent projects as opportunities to assert his artistic vision and to tell stories that challenge conventional narratives. “With *Hamlet*, it’s the first non-white Hamlet in the history of cinema, or with *Bait*, I don’t think there’s quite been a story told like that,” he pointed out.
The actor emphasized the challenges that come with creating such groundbreaking works, acknowledging that “you have to really kind of fight tooth and nail for” opportunities that diverge from established templates. He described the process as one that involves a continuous battle to maintain creative control and to convince not only others but oneself of the value in taking risks.
Outside of his directorial collaborations, Ahmed’s career continues to flourish. He recently appeared in *The Phoenician Scheme* and is set to star alongside Tom Cruise in the upcoming comedy *Digger*, which is due for release in October. His commitment to both acting and producing underscores a burgeoning sense of agency over his work, which he believes is crucial in today’s film industry.
As Riz Ahmed navigates the evolving landscape of cinema, his focus on storytelling that reflects diverse experiences resonates with audiences, thus reinforcing his position as a pivotal figure in contemporary film. With *Hamlet* now playing in theatres and *Bait* available on Prime Video, Ahmed’s contributions to the arts are both timely and significant, reflecting a broader movement towards inclusivity in storytelling.