Blurring boundaries: Indian actors playing Pakistanis in American series

For most Indian actors and Indianorigin actors landing a role in a Hollywood film even if it is blinkandmiss part or in Western television shows is a big deal Most are keen on going global and love to tomtom about making a mark in the WestNimrat Kaur essays a Pakistani character in the fourth season of the American political thriller television series Homeland for which she shot in South Africa She essays the character of Tasneem Kureshi a highlevel operative within Pakistanrsquos InterServices Intelligence agency PicSayed Sameer AbediIronically most Indian actors are ending up essaying Pakistani characters in these projects Since our neighbouring country has caught the fancy of many Western writers and filmmakers it has been serving as a backdrop in many of their plotsParminder Nagra plays guntoting field agent Meera Malik in the American crime drama The BlacklistThe latest Indian export to the West is The Lunchbox actress Nimrat Kaur who will be seen in the upcoming season of American TV series Homeland She essays the character of a Pakistani ISI agent in season four of the thriller Meanwhile Life Of Pi actor Suraj Sharma a Delhi boy plays a Pakistani medical student in this Emmyaward winning show that stars Claire Danes and Damian LewisSuraj Sharma portrays a Pakistani medical student in the American TV series HomelandNimrat and Suraj have been shooting in South Africa for Homeland that premieres next month Says Nimrat ldquoSo what if we are playing Pakistani characters We were one till a political event divided us We have the same passion for cricket and food The show is a huge draw and I am thrilled to be a part of itrdquoDev Patel played a Pakistani teenager in the British teen drama SkinsThe actress says it is because of the sameness quotient that many Indian actors end up playing Pakistani characters in the West She says ldquoWe are the same people I am from Punjab and most of my family is from Rawalpindi and Lahore We speak the same language so it is easier If I had been asked to essay the role of say a Spanish character I would have found it tough as I would not know about the nuances but playing a Pakistani is easierrdquoNaveen Andrews played Pakistani doctor Hasnat Khan who is said to have had a special relationship with Lady Diana in the 2013 film DianaNimrat auditioned for her part in London and a few days later she was on board As Pakistani ISI agent Tasneem Qureshi her character is shown to be lead actor Claire Danesrsquos nemesis on the show She is someone who knows how to get her work done Suraj on the other hand portrays Aayan Ibrahim a Pakistani medical student who crosses paths with Claire DanesAasif Mandvi is cast as a Pakistani character in the US comedy series The BrinkIn the ongoing American crime series The Blacklist Indianorigin British actress Parminder Nagra best remembered as the footballloving girl in Gurinder Chadharsquos 2002 film Bend It Like Beckham plays the guntoting field agent Meera Malik who takes on terroristsPast referencesSlumdog Millionaire actor Dev Patel played Pakistani teenager Anwar Kharral in the British teen drama Skins that followed the lives of a group of youngsters in Bristol The show which aired from 2007 to 2013 explored issues such as dysfunctional families mental illness adolescent sexuality and substance abuseSimilarly IndianAmerican actor Aasif Mandvi plays the Pakistani character of Rafiq Massoud in The Brink This TV series is a dark comedy focusing on a geopolitical crisis He is also the writer and coproducer of the seriesIn the 2013 biographical film Diana that starred Naomi Watts in the title role another Indianorigin actor Naveen Andrews essayed the part of Pakistani doctor Hasnat Khan who is said to have had a special relationship with Lady DianaIt may also be pointed out that Shobu Kapoor a British actress of Indian descent plays a Pakistani wife in the British sitcom Citizen Khan