Riz Ahmed’s South Asian Hamlet Shakes Up Shakespeare

Riz Ahmed, the 43-year-old British–Pakistani actor, has spent 13 years adapting Shakespeare’s Hamlet into a modern film set within a wealthy British South Asian family in London. Directed by Aneil Karia, this fresh interpretation stars Ahmed in the title role and introduces audiences to a version of the classic story that blends Shakespearean themes with contemporary cultural elements.

Notable Cast Brings Depth to the Adaptation

The film features a distinguished supporting cast including Morfydd Clark from The Rings of Power, Joe Alwyn known for Hamnet, Art Malik from Homeland, and Timothy Spall of Mr Turner fame. Their involvement adds to the film’s strong portrayal of characters navigating the pressures of family and society within the South Asian community.

Why a South Asian Family Setting Matters in This Hamlet

Ahmed explained his creative choice to set the story within a South Asian family as a natural development:

“Once I knew I wanted to play Hamlet and that we wanted it to feel real and grounded, it followed naturally that the family would be South Asian,”

he told the Press Association. He emphasized that while the decision was not intended as a political statement, it opens doors for broader representation:

“That wasn’t meant to be too much of a statement, but if people take it as one about who these stories belong to, and who belongs in these kinds of stories, I think that, particularly at this moment, can only be a positive thing.”

A Visceral, Action-Packed Version Reflecting Cultural Ties

The narrative follows a son driven to madness by his father’s death, culminating in tragic consequences, all filmed with the intensity of an action thriller. Ahmed, recognized for his Oscar-nominated role in The Sound of Metal, sees deep connections between the story and South Asian traditions. He stated,

“I think we really need to understand that culture is something we share, something we all contribute to,”

and highlighted their use of the Hindu sacred text Bhagavad Gita at the film’s start, which parallels Hamlet’s themes.

“I hope it helps people to blow the story wide open in their minds, in terms of what it can be and who can be in it.”

Director Aneil Karia Finds Resonance Between Shakespeare and South Asian Values

Karia, who has directed episodes of the acclaimed series Top Boy, noted ongoing discoveries linking Shakespeare’s themes of honour and family to South Asian culture. He remarked,

“What was also interesting on the journey of making this film was the resonance and the connections we kept finding between the text and South Asian culture,”

and added that elements such as ghosts, family honour, and marriage customs remain relevant today:

“In some adaptations, these aspects feel antiquated or whimsical, but amazingly, they remain relevant in present-day South Asian culture. We were constantly discovering connections that felt particularly pertinent, which made everything feel more real.”

A Genuine and Immediate Experience Over Intellectualizing Shakespeare

Ahmed stressed that this film does not reimagine Shakespeare’s work as a detached or clever experiment. Rather, he described it as:

“about feeling it in a visceral way, constantly under pressure and on the move,”

and praised Karia’s vision:

“That’s the version of Hamlet Aneil has created, and I think it’s one that audiences really connect with.”

What to Expect as Hamlet Arrives in Cinemas

The film officially opens across UK cinemas on Friday, offering viewers a chance to experience Shakespeare through a culturally rich, intense lens. By blending classic narrative with South Asian cultural perspectives, this Hamlet adaptation challenges traditional ideas of storytelling and representation, potentially broadening how such iconic stories resonate with a diverse audience in the future.