Riz Ahmed has confirmed that he and his wife, Fatima Farheen Mirza, are parents.
The actor revealed they have a young child, though he did not disclose age or gender, during a conversation with Club Ciné.
While discussing his career, including his role in the newly released thriller Relay, Riz was asked what role he is “proudest of”.
He revealed: “Being a father. Because it’s not about me.”
Riz and Fatima first met in 2018 at a Brooklyn cafe while the actor was preparing for Sound of Metal.
Recalling the meeting, he said: “I was writing a script. I was actually working on the thing that I’m editing now.
“She sat down opposite and started emptying her whole bag out because she’d lost her charger. You know, I just spotted an opening. ‘Can I help you?’”
The couple married in an intimate ceremony in 2020. They have largely kept their child away from the public eye.
The actor acknowledged the impact Fatima has had on his life and career.
He said: “You know, at this point, anything that I do, as an artist, is facilitated by the support of my wife.
“So, it’s definitely kind of made me realise the extent to which the people closest to you are actually the co-authors of your work.”
Riz Ahmed also revealed the challenges his family faced soon after welcoming their child.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, he recalled a robbery while moving from California to New York, resulting in his child’s sentimental items being stolen.
He said: “All our belongings and prized possessions were robbed on a truck that was moving from California to New York.
“We just had a baby, and so all of our photos and memory cards and really precious items were robbed.”
The incident occurred before he began filming Relay, where he plays Ash, a man protecting whistleblowers from corrupt corporations.
Riz explained how personal loss shaped his performance:
“Sometimes, I would have the assistant director read out the email or the list of things stolen, or the latest text message from the person that was investigating.
“So that experience gave me a way into this character that was very visceral and honest. And I’m just going to be real with you, that’s partly why this film means so much to me.
“We, as a family, were living through a similar version of loss and loss of control that my character was dealing with.”
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