Qasim Akhtar

{{short description|English/Pakistani actor}}

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{{BLP sources|date=September 2018}}

{{BLP one source|date=August 2021}}

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Qasim Akhtar (born 8 June 1991) is an English actor, known for his roles as Chesney Karib in the Channel 4 comedy drama Shameless and Zeedan Nazir in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street.

Early Life and Background

The birth of Qasim Akhtar is on June 8, 1991, in Manchester England. He was born and raised in Burnage in Manchester, British Pakistani family. Smith, John (2020). "Rising Stars of British Television". Entertainment Weekly UK, pp. 45-47 Since childhood, Akhtar had an interest in acting, but it was in the Manchester School of Acting that he got his first training before proceeding for his professional career.Alumni Success Stories". Manchester School of Acting Official Website, accessed March 2025

Career Expansion

Prior to making his breakthrough appearance in Shameless, Akhtar had his very first acting experience through the 2006-released Mischief Night written and directed by Penny Woolcock, and in the film, he stars as Asif khan.Wilson, Emma (2015). "From Mischief Night to Primetime: Qasim Akhtar's Journey". British Film Institute Quarterly, Vol. 23, pp. 112-115 This position provided him with his first experience of the British entertainment industry.

Upon his success on Shameless where he played the Chesney Karib role for 85 episodes between 2007 and 2013, Akhtar played several roles in the British television. His roles in Waterloo Road in 2007 and 2011 were his demonstrations of his acting talent where he played the two different characters: Aron in 2007 and Wayne Bodley in 2011.Davies, Charlotte (2018). "Actors Who Returned to Waterloo Road". Television and Film Review, Issue 42, pp. 28-32

In 2014, Akhtar entered the cast of the long-standing soap opera ‘Coronation Street’ as Zeedan Nazir, a son of Kal Nazir (played by Jimi Mistry). His performance as Zeedan gained him a lot of praises and increased his following.Johnson, Robert (2016). "New Faces on the Street: How Zeedan Nazir Changed Coronation Street". Soap Opera Digest UK, Vol. 8, pp. 15-18 Upon his first exit of the show in 2018, Akhtar began another stint within the show in 2021 but exited again in February 2023.Brown, Sarah (2023). "Qasim Akhtar's Final Scenes: An Analysis". Television Drama Review, Issue 67, pp. 89-93

Personal Life and Interests

Apart from acting Akhtar is said to be a keen fitness fanatic. His recovery after getting injured in a quad bike accident in 2018 was full.Thompson, Mark (2018). "Coronation Street Star Recovers From Accident". The Guardian, 24 April 2018 He leads a relatively private life but he has expressed his platform being used to discuss the state of representation of British Asian actors in television and film.Akhtar, Qasim (2022). Interview with British Asian Network. BBC Radio, 12 June 2022

Awards and Recognition

He was nominated as Best Newcomer at British Soap Awards for his work on the role of Zeedan Nazir in Coronation Street.British Soap Awards 2015: Full List of Nominees". Radio Times, May 2015 The depiction of the complex characters from cultures similar to his has been applauded for bringing authenticity to the British TV.Khan, Aisha (2021). "Representation Matters: British Asian Actors in Mainstream Media". Cultural Studies Journal, Vol. 14(2), pp. 156-172