After giving the world a black superhero in Black Panther, Marvel broke another stereotype by introducing a Muslim superhero in the recently released miniseries Ms. While Iman Vellani is playing the lead protagonist, Pakistani actor Mehwish Hayat is playing the role of Vellaani’s great-grandmother aka the original owner of Fantasy Bangles in the fantasy superhero show.
Now, during her latest chat with Disney Central, Mahwish Hayat spoke candidly about Muslim representation on a global stage, sharing her experience working on a Hollywood project. For Hyatt, it was a fascinating experience as she reportedly couldn’t imagine that the whole journey was real. When asked about the comparison between the Pakistani entertainment industry and Hollywood, Hayat rightly pointed out how the two are very different from each other. According to him, Pakistani industry is still in its infancy and there is a long way to go for their growth, meanwhile Hollywood is a global platform. “There’s no comparison,” shared Hyatt.
However, on a personal note, Hayat said that when she is in front of the camera, the distinction between the Pakistani and Hollywood industry fades in her mind. She claims that whether it is shooting for a Pakistani film, show or Ms. Marvel, her passion for acting remains unchanged.
“Once the camera or the camera red light turns on and I am in front of it, it doesn’t matter. It is the same for me as an artist,” she said.
In addition, he opened up about the stereotypical representation of Muslim characters around the world. Hayat has often found herself frustrated with the representation of the Islamic community on the big screen. He highlighted how Muslim characters have always been portrayed as the villains they are subject to when it comes to women.
However, Ms. Marvel draws attention to a misrepresented narrative by openly portraying the community in a positive light. For him, the use of words like Bismillah Ma Sha Allah in the Marvel project is a big step in the right direction. Hayat elaborated, “Words like visual, bismillah and ma sha Allah are being used in the mosque. Who would have imagined this to happen? This is going in the right direction. Nakiya is a hijabi and she has a lot to say about it.” Proud. Imagine how many girls it is representing as well as two billion Muslims on the show.”
He also praised the main protagonist of the series, Iman Vellani, before concluding the conversation. According to Hayat, Vellani is an authentic actor who brings sheer creativity to the table. She concluded, “She has great ideas and presence, the authenticity she brings to the character of Kamala, I can’t imagine anyone else playing that role.”
Produced by Bisha K Ali, Miss Marvel is the seventh television miniseries in the Marvel Cinematic Universe that was released after Moon Knight. The plot of the show chronicles the life of a 16-year-old Avengers fangirl who, after gaining power, goes through an intense struggle to find her own place in the superhero universe. Apart from Mehwish Hayat, Fawad Khan is another Pakistani actor who is a part of Marvel shows.
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