Afshan Azad

{{short description|British actress, model, and media personality (born 1988)|bot=PearBOT 5}}

{{Infobox person

| honorific_prefix =

| name = Afshan Azad

| image = afshan azad 2020 1.jpg

| caption = Azad in 2020

| birth_name = Afshan Noor Azad

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1988|02|12|df=y}}

| birth_place = Longsight, Manchester, England

| nationality =

| other_names =

| alma_mater = University of Salford

| occupation = Actress, model

| years_active = 2005–present

| known_for = Padma Patil in the Harry Potter film series

| spouse = {{marriage|Nabil Kazi|2018}}

| children = 2

| website =

}}

Afshan Noor Azad-Kazi (née Azad; born 12 February 1988) is a British actress, model, and media personality.{{Cite magazine |url=https://people.com/parents/harry-potter-actress-afshan-azad-pregnant-expecting-first-child-baby/ |title=Harry Potter Actress Afshan Azad Is Pregnant, Expecting First Baby with Husband Nabil Kazi |magazine=People |first=Gabrielle |last=Chung |date=12 April 2021 |access-date=29 May 2021}} She is best known for playing the role of Padma Patil in the Harry Potter film series, beginning in 2005 with Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

Early life and education

Azad was born in Longsight, Manchester, to Bangladeshi parents from Chittagong.{{cite tweet|user=afshan_azad|number=947025199836393472|title=Neither. I’m from Chittagong.}} She attended Whalley Range High School, and took AS-levels in chemistry, biology, English and business studies at Xaverian College in Rusholme. She went on to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Design from the University of Salford.{{cite news |last=Halle |first=Deborah |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/204/204248_student_off_to_hogwarts__again.html |title=Student off to Hogwarts – again |location=Manchester |publisher=Manchester Evening News |date=13 February 2006 |access-date=24 June 2009}}

Career

Azad is known for her performances as Padma Patil in five of the Harry Potter films, starting with 2005's Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. She acquired the role when casting agents visited her school and, after having attended several auditions, chose her for the part. Azad had stated that she had auditioned "just for the fun of it" and surprisingly got the part.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_4440000/newsid_4447400/4447406.stm |title=NR chats to GOF's Patil twins |work=Newsround |publisher=BBC |date=17 November 2005 |access-date=11 February 2007}}

In 2017, Azad guest presented an episode of the CBBC series Marrying Mum & Dad with Ed Petrie whilst Naomi Wilkinson was away.{{cite tweet |user=afshan_azad |author=Afshan Azad |number=850766674374664192 |date=8 April 2017 |title=I can now proudly say I'm guest presenting alongside @edpetrie for an episode of Marrying Mum & Dad for the CBBC ch…}}

= Advocacy =

In October 2023, Azad signed an open letter by Artists4Ceasefire to Joe Biden, President of the United States, of artists calling for a ceasefire of the Israeli bombardment of Gaza.{{Cite web |title=Artists4Ceasefire |url=https://www.artists4ceasefire.org/ |access-date=11 December 2023 |website=Artists4Ceasefire |language=en-US}}

Personal life

Azad married Nabil Kazi on 19 August 2018. They are based in Worcester.{{Cite web |date=14 August 2018 |title='Best wedding ever' Afshan shares wedding day snap |url=https://www.asianimage.co.uk/news/16418190.best-wedding-ever-afshan-shares-wedding-day-snap/ |url-status=live |website=Asian Image |access-date= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180814195111/http://www.asianimage.co.uk/news/16418190.best-wedding-ever-afshan-shares-wedding-day-snap/ |archive-date=14 August 2018}} They have two daughters.{{cite magazine |title=Harry Potter Star Afshan Azad-Kazi Welcomes Baby No. 2 with Husband Nabil Kazi: 'Beyond Blessed' |url=https://people.com/harry-potter-star-afshan-azad-kazi-welcomes-baby-no-2-with-husband-nabil-kazi-8684629 |magazine=People |date=28 August 2024}}

On 29 June 2010, Azad’s father and brother appeared in Manchester Magistrates' Court, charged with threatening to kill her after discovering she was dating a non-Muslim.{{cite news |title=Harry Potter girl's family arrested over threats |url=http://news.ninemsn.com.au/entertainment/1079596/harry-potter-stars-family-threatens-to-kill-her |url-status=dead |work=ninemsn |date=13 September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100704102941/http://news.ninemsn.com.au/entertainment/1079596/harry-potter-stars-family-threatens-to-kill-her |archive-date=4 July 2010 |access-date=3 July 2010}} They were released on bail. Azad's brother was charged with "assault occasioning actual bodily harm", whilst Azad stayed with friends in London.{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/07/02/england.harry.potter.attack/index.html?hpt=C2 |title=Afshan Azad Allegedly Threatened and Assaulted by Family, Say Reports |publisher=CNN |date=2 July 2010 |access-date=3 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100705111031/http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/07/02/england.harry.potter.attack/index.html?hpt=C2 |archive-date=5 July 2010 |url-status=live}} On 20 December 2010, Azad did not attend court when the prosecution accepted her brother's guilty plea to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and a judge ruled both men were not guilty of threatening to kill Azad.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-12042864 |title=Harry Potter actress's brother admits attacking her |work=BBC News |date=20 December 2010 |access-date=20 December 2010}} On 21 January 2011, Azad's brother was imprisoned for six months.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-12248091 |title=Harry Potter actress's brother jailed for attacking her |work=BBC News |date=2 July 2010 |access-date=3 July 2010}}

Filmography

Film

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;"
Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes
rowspan="1"\| 2005 \|Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire \| rowspan="5"\| Padma Patil \|
rowspan="1"\| 2007 \|Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix \|
rowspan="1"\| 2009 \|Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince \|
rowspan="1"\| 2010 \|Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 \|
rowspan="1"\| 2011 \|Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 \|

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;"

Year

! Title

! Role

! Notes

rowspan="1"| 2005

|Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

| rowspan="5"| Padma Patil

rowspan="1"| 2007

|Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

rowspan="1"| 2009

|Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince