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Iman Vellani is living the dream by going from super fan to superhero in Ms. Marvel

Iman Vellani is living the dream by going from super fan to superhero in Ms. Marvel

The 19-year-old Pakistani-Canadian actor plays Marvel Comics' Kamala Khan, a high school student and superhero fangirl.
08 Jun, 2022

From super fan to superhero, 19-year-old Pakistani-Canadian actor Iman Vellani has made the ultimate transformation in the new Disney+ television show Ms. Marvel.

Vellani plays Marvel Comics' Kamala Khan, a 16-year-old high school student and superhero fangirl who discovers she has powers of her own.

Like her character, Vellani is also a huge superhero fan, who made her own Ms. Marvel costume when she was 15.

"It's so infectious. Her fascination and excitement about the Avengers are so shared with real life Marvel fans and speaking as one, I just felt like I could slip into Kamala's shoes very easily," Vellani told Reuters. "That's really all we were channelling throughout the filming of the show, just how I would react in real life."

Ms. Marvel is seen as the biggest breakout star in Marvel Comics in the last decade and is also the first Muslim character to have her own comic book series.

"I really do hope that the show kind of inspires more Muslim and South Asian creatives to tell their stories because this is just one story about one girl," Vellani said.

"We cannot represent all two billion Muslims and south Asians in the world ... but hopefully this is a start and hopefully people do find some part of Kamala's story that they relate to."

As well as playing Khan in the television show, Vellani is set to team up with Brie Larson, who plays Captain Marvel, in the 2023 film The Marvels.

"Brie was the first person to reach out to me and kind of just share her own experiences of how this role has kind of changed her, her own career," Vellani said.

"Marvel gives actors just an insane amount of, you know, attention and a huge fandom so it can be really overwhelming at times and I'm just so glad that she was there to kind of hold my hand and answer all my questions," she added.

Comments

Ahmed Jun 08, 2022 10:45am
Look at her and tell me once again how we can relate to her? Either as Muslims or Pakistanis? Why did she "south Asians" and not Pakistani? Strange times we live in. People like these being celebrated signals the death of civilization.
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Daredevil Jun 08, 2022 12:09pm
We can only wish her luck, nothing else, she got nothing to do with Pakistan.
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datta Jun 08, 2022 12:13pm
don't relate to her then. Anybody forcing you?
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abdal-jabbar husayn Jun 08, 2022 12:22pm
@Ahmed agree completely loss of identity is the worst possible tragedy
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Usman Jun 08, 2022 12:32pm
@Ahmed agree totally. Why are we always looking for validation from the white man. This is colonialism long after they have left, our minds are colonised and we need to stop this pathetic way of thinking. We as a nation, as a people will never progress if we set the west as out standard. This is not our culture and no matter what you do you will not be accepted, believe me I know, I have spent my entire life living with these people
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Tadka Jun 08, 2022 01:35pm
@Ahmed filmy lux awards or TV shows can relate to ??
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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad Jun 08, 2022 02:00pm
Great move and excellent news.
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No Name Jun 08, 2022 02:14pm
Didn't ask + don't care
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HashBrown® Jun 08, 2022 02:38pm
"Look at her and tell me once again how we can relate to her? Either as Muslims or Pakistanis?" Another young Pakistani female gains some recognition, and suddenly the same men come out of the woodwork showing bitterness and jealousy. If you can't see the value of her presence in a major movie franchise, then I'm afraid you're too ignorant to even be commenting.
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Kulsoom Baloch Jun 08, 2022 03:28pm
Girls power is superior in all eras but they need a space to prove themselves.
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Parvez Jun 08, 2022 04:43pm
Something to he proud of. Even with so much bigotry around us, it is amazing we produce such stars.
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HashBrown® Jun 08, 2022 05:06pm
@Usman "This is colonialism long after they have left, our minds are colonised and we need to stop this pathetic way of thinking. " Lovely speech, and then you tell us you've lived your entire life in the west. Thank you for summing up the hypocrisy of all the complaints in a single post.
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NYS Jun 08, 2022 08:22pm
On one side these girls represent their self being Muslim and Pakistani national ,on the flip feel proud to be part of Hollywood by adopting their cult .... What make it different Isn't it double standard???
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