Adeel Akhtar
- Known For
- Acting
- Born
- September 18, 1980 in London, England, UK
- Active Years
- 2001–2026 (26 Years)
- Total Credits
- 57 credits in database
Biography
Adeel Hamayun Akhtar is a British actor born on September 18, 1980, in London, England, United Kingdom. He has made several stage appearances, including playing Guildenstern in the Young Vic production of Hamlet in 2011. In film and television, he is known for comedic performances such as the bumbling Muslim extremist Faisal in Chris Morris's film Four Lions, Gupta in The Angelos Epithemiou Show, Maroush in The Dictator, and Smee in Joe Wright's Pan. He has also received acclaim for dramatic roles, including a BAFTA nomination for Best Supporting Actor for playing Wilson Wilson in the Channel 4 television series Utopia. His other television credits include playing shopkeeper Ahmed in the BBC mini-series Capital alongside Toby Jones, and DS Ira King in the BBC series River.
Career overview
Adeel Hamayun Akhtar is a British actor born in London, England, on September 18, 1980. His film credits include playing the bumbling Muslim extremist Faisal in Chris Morris's film Four Lions, Maroush in The Dictator, and Smee in Joe Wright and Pan. On television and stage, his comedic performances include Gupta in The Angelos Epithemiou Show, as well as stage appearances such as Guildenstern in the Young Vic's 2011 production of Hamlet.
In addition to his comedic work, Akhtar has earned acclaim for his dramatic performances. In 2015, he received a BAFTA nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his 2014 role as Wilson Wilson on Channel 4's Utopia. His other television roles include playing shopkeeper Ahmed alongside Toby Jones in the BBC mini-series Capital, and portraying DS Ira King in the BBC series River. Reviewing River in The Daily Telegraph, critic Michael Hogan praised the series as beautifully written by Abi Morgan, stylishly directed, and superbly acted.
Ask the Vault
Ask anything about Adeel Akhtar.
Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
57 titles- Letters to My Younger Future Self (2026)
- Down Cemetery Road (2025) as Hamza Malik
- National Theatre Live: The Estate (2025) as Angad Singh
- Fool Me Once (2024) as Sami Kierce
- Black Doves (2024) as Prime Minister Eaves
- Murder Mystery 2 (2023) as The Maharajah
- Dickens: Phantoms and Fiction (2023) as Readings
- The Puppet Asylum (2023) as The Narrator
- The Walk (2023) as Amar
- Enola Holmes 2 (2022) as Lestrade
- Sherwood (2022) as Andy Fisher
- Save the Cinema (2022) as Tom
- Ali & Ava (2022) as Ali
- Sweet Tooth (2021) as Dr. Aditya Singh
- Showtrial (2021) as Sam Malik
- The Electrical Life of Louis Wain (2021) as Dan Rider
- Robin Robin (2021) as Dad Mouse (voice)
- Everybody's Talking About Jamie (2021) as Iman Masood
- Enola Holmes (2020) as Lestrade
- The Nest (2020) as Steve
- Murder Mystery (2019) as The Maharajah
- Back to Life (2019) as Billy
- The Show (2019) as Carpenter
- Raagni - The Movie (2019) as Maulana Wahdi
- Killing Eve (2018) as Martin
- Les Misérables (2018) as Thénardier
- Swimming with Men (2018) as Kurt
- Counterpart (2017) as Casper
- Ghosted (2017) as Dr. Barry Shaw
- The Big Sick (2017) as Naveed Nanjiani
- Victoria & Abdul (2017) as Mohammed
- Hampstead (2017) as Donald's Lawyer
- The Night Manager (2016) as Rob Singhal
- Flowers (2016) as Doctor
- The Last Dragonslayer (2016) as Mr. Brittles
- The Circuit (2016) as Gabe
- Murdered by My Father (2016) as Shahzad
- Pan (2015) as Sam "Smee" Smiegel
- River (2015) as Ira King
- Capital (2015) as Ahmed
- Convenience (2015) as Shaan
- War Book (2015) as Mo
- Utopia (2013) as Wilson Wilson
- The Job Lot (2013) as George Dhot
- Utopia (2013) as Wilson Wilson
- Jadoo (2013) as Vinod
- Stranger Things (2013) as Mani
- Keeping Up with the Joneses (2013) as Jerry
- Utopia (2013) as Wilson Wilson
- The Dictator (2012) as Maroush
- The Angelos Epithemiou Show (2012) as Gupta
- Four Lions (2010) as Faisal
- Traitor (2008) as Hamzi
- Conviction (2006) as Darpan Banerjee
- Who Do You Think You Are? (2004) as Self
- Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001) as Hazim
- Elsinore
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Adeel Akhtar best known for?
Adeel Akhtar is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Down Cemetery Road (2025), Fool Me Once (2024), Black Doves (2024), Murder Mystery 2 (2023).
When and where was Adeel Akhtar born?
Adeel Akhtar was born on September 18, 1980 in London, England, UK.
How many credits does Adeel Akhtar have?
Adeel Akhtar has accumulated over 57 film and television credits across a career spanning from 2001 to 2026.
What is Adeel Akhtar's background in cinema and television?
Adeel Hamayun Akhtar is a British actor born on September 18, 1980, in London, England, United Kingdom. He has made several stage appearances, including playing Guildenstern in the Young Vic production of Hamlet in 2011. In film and television, he is known for comedic performances such as the bumbling Muslim extremist ...
Adeel Akhtar by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Utopia (2013) as Wilson Wilson — aged about 32
- Killing Eve (2018) as Martin — aged about 37
- Utopia (2013) as Wilson Wilson — aged about 32
- Sweet Tooth (2021) as Dr. Aditya Singh — aged about 40
- Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001) as Hazim — aged about 20
- Counterpart (2017) as Casper — aged about 36
What viewers say
No comments yet. Be the first to share your take on Adeel Akhtar.