Rish Shah, star of "Ms. Marvel," defends Kamran's true motives and discusses the mind-blowing Spider-Man lunch break.

 

During an in-depth interview with THR, the actor lifts the veil on the Disney+ series, discussing casting decisions, getting close to the cast over the holidays, and his hopes for the MCU in the future.

[This article includes Ms. Marvel spoilers.]

Rish Shah wants to make it obvious that Kamala Khan's ClanDestine crush, Kamran, had the best of intentions all along now that Ms. Marvel's critically acclaimed first season is over.

It's understandable to doubt the veracity of Kamran's earlier meetings with Kamala when it's revealed at the end of episode two and the start of episode three of the Disney+ series that Kamran actually belongs to an exiled group of beings from another realm. Was he sincerely interested in her, or was he working secretly to find the bangle that belonged to Kamala's family so that his ClanDestine family could go home? Shah never considered it a question because he consistently depicted Kamran's attraction to Kamala as genuine.

"As far as I know, he never tricked her. He never attempted to impersonate Kamala. And before some of the screenplay changes and reshoots that were made, [his honesty] was perhaps a little clearer. But that was the situation in my head all along," Shah tells The Hollywood Reporter.

Shah is also defending Kamran since the 17-year-old hasn't had time to process what's happening to him and his risky exhibition of his newly discovered skills in the season finale, "No Normal."

He feels a little betrayed by Kamala, the only person he relied on and trusted. She was present when his family passed away, and he is unable to handle and digest that information in the best way. And it's not on purpose. He's just a lost kid who can't manage the circumstances he's been put in," Shah claims.

In a recent spoiler interview with THR, Shah also talked about the peculiar manner he discovered the biggest secret of Spider-Man: No Way Home, requiring the collaboration of all three live-action Spider-Man actors.

I'm going to be very upset if you call me Bruno during this interview because my name is Brian.

(Laughs.) Because Brian simply stuck in my memory, I kept forgetting to call Matt [Lintz] Bruno on set. I therefore am unable to use the word Bruno even if I wanted to.

What were the circumstances for you at the time this audition came your way?

To get that audition, I really hustled. My team made it happen for me, of course; for them, it was as simple as making a phone call. Nevertheless, I had been bugging them for years in order to somehow be engaged with the Marvel universe. I was thrilled when this opportunity arose and knew right once from having read the comics that it was the dummy side. Oh gosh, I feel like I'd be perfect for this, I thought. I'm quite passionate about it because I adore it. Despite the fact that it took a very long time, it was successful. Funny thing is, whenever you go for an audition, you say things like, "Yeah, I'd be ideal for this. However, as soon as you start working, you think, "Oh crap. This definitely makes me nervous. But that was a remarkable procedure.

Iman Vellani and you both read together, right?

Indeed, we did. We took the screen test together via Zoom, but they didn't let me know Iman would be present. We have a reader, they just said. I therefore imagined it would be a representative of their casting office. But when I finally watched Iman, I thought, "Oh, okay. This young lady is Ms. Marvel. She was also a ghost at the moment online. Afterward, I looked her up but came up empty-handed. She probably didn't even mention her last name throughout the Zoom call. It only said, "Iman." I was therefore curious about the girl because all I knew about her was that she was Canadian.

However, I must admit that our chemistry read was excellent. It was just so simple with her right away. During the intermissions between scenes, I recall asking her about Toronto and her current activities. How long ago that was now is strange to consider. It has taken a very long time. However, it was enjoyable for me to screen test with Matt, who plays Bruno. We also had a fantastic dynamic, and eventually, in episode five, we got a moment that was strikingly similar to our chemistry read. So, when we recorded it and later watched it, it seemed like a full-circle moment.

How did you break the good news?

It happened exactly one week after my screen exam, I believe. I was in bed when my agent woke me up. He sent me a message and kept saying, "Ping, ping." You don't say "ping-ping" to someone who has just missed out on their ideal job, I just remember thinking. (Laughs.) I joined this Zoom call as a result, and I soon learned the news. I'm fairly certain I woke up everyone in my home when I screamed with glee. We just rejoiced together because I was with everyone I love and all of my closest friends. It was a really tender time.

I understand that Kamran is very different from Ms. Marvel's portrayal in the comic books. So, did they want you to read the comics again, or did they want you to concentrate on the scripts?

There is unquestionably a distinction. He is the bad guy in the comic books. He uses Kamala and is manipulative. In contrast, he genuinely comes from a very sincere place in the show, simply wanting to fit in and feel at home, and he instantly connects with Kamala on a number of levels. Towards having these capabilities and fresh abilities by the end of the programme, he is plainly able to share the connection of the Noor.

I wasn't requested to return to the comics, and to be fair, I doubt anyone would, but it's clear that the source material served as a major source of inspiration for the entire programme. So in many ways, it is extremely faithful to the comics, but Kamran, in my opinion, has been recast in an attempt to make him somewhat more likeable. (Laughs.) He makes the choice to betray his family and protect Kamala very early on, therefore it is clear that he has a twisted moral compass and is less convinced of his values. That's a significant choice, and ideally it demonstrates that he has good intentions and is a decent person.

His powers in the comics, in my opinion, came from his Inhuman ancestry.

I agree, completely. He has undoubtedly been rethought, but for the better. I have faith in Kevin and the entire Marvel team to make the right choices. I said, "As long as I get to my powers, I'm down, man," to whatever they said to me. Just being here makes me happy. I therefore think it looks fantastic. It was good to see them bring that colour back in because a lot of the colouring and rendering are really close to Kamran from the comics. Even at the conclusion of episode five, when the Noor pulsates out of him and explodes on the DODC drone that’s very similar to some of his abilities in the comics and that bioluminescence. So that connection is pretty cool.

As you indicated, Kamran meets Kamala, and they click immediately. However, he was, in essence, operating incognito. I was therefore relieved to learn that he had actually cared for her by guarding her at the wedding from his fellow ClanDestines. Otherwise, leading Kamala on and manipulating her in that way just seems cruel. Were you additionally relieved that despite the lies, his interactions were sincere?

It's amusing because Kamran was never a covert agent in the first. Although it would seem that way, he actually just so happens to be at this high school and meets this girl with whom he can relate. How Kamran finds her and assists her at the end of episode two is not really made clear. but as far as I know, he never tricked her. He never attempted to impersonate Kamala. I doubt he made the following mental note: "I'm going to run up Kamala right now and take her out on a date so I can get to know her and learn about this bracelet." So I believe he always acted out of love and genuine curiosity. By the end of episode two, it becomes out that his mother has been looking for this bangle for years, although Kamran has only been trying to settle in and find a place to call home. And before some of the later screenplay revisions, as well as before the reshoots and everything, I believe that [his sincerity] was probably a bit clearer. But in my mind, that was always the case.

That's interesting because I always thought he was acting in a ClanDestine-loyal manner. I believed that he was appealing to Kamala's interests when they connected over Bollywood movies—interests that the ClanDestines had learned about through reconnaissance.

Yes, I had it in my head that it was real, but it's good that people can disagree about it. It's good that it can go either way because characters with more nuanced motivations and intents are always more interesting. I'm hoping it's more captivating and fascinating. However, in my opinion, he was merely making a connection with someone. Iman has previously claimed that Kamala is the first person she has been able to spend time with in high school that is just able to openly and confidently talk about their culture. So I believe Kamran had the same sentiments.

I even contemplated the idea that his staff might have reported the house party to the police simply so Kamran could snatch up Kamala and her pals. Of all, house parties are frequently interrupted, but I fully bought into the idea that he might be a covert agent.

(Laughs.) Wow, it is awesome. I simply portrayed him as sincere in his attempts to have fun and get to know this girl, whom he finds intriguing. She's just so endearing and effervescent, and Kamala probably isn't like most of the girls Kamran has previously met. I believe that after travelling with the ClanDestines and attempting to return to their home realm, he now feels as like he has a minute to catch his breath and a moment of pure safety, comfort, and security with someone else. I believe it really, truly touches him when she says to him, "Maybe this might feel like your home one day." He may finally feel that he has a chance to fit in, in my opinion.

Before she passes away, his mother Najma (Nimra Bucha) gives her power to him, and he finds it difficult to control it. The way he uses his power is also, to put it mildly, disturbing. So what did you think of his actions using his newfound abilities?

He is first attempting to understand what is happening. He didn't expect to be given these newfound abilities, and he is currently unsure of who to ask for assistance. He made the choice to defend Kamala, her companion, and himself in doing so, and as a result, he has been abandoned by his family. But since he doesn't want to hurt anyone, there's also the issue of managing his powers. Despite his best efforts, his powers are sadly kind of spilling out of him. Such a significant quantity of Noor and energy are involved. He receives it directly from the Veil, unlike Kamala, who had time to figure things out. Kamala is still receiving assistance from Bruno as she learns how to control and safely use these powers.

"Oh crap, this is happening, and I'm being hounded and hunted down," says Kamran. Therefore, it's a lot at once. By the end of the episode, he feels a little let down by Kamala, the one person he relied on and trusted. He is unable to properly accept and digest the fact that she was present when his family passed away because he was there. Therefore, I believe that his rage is certain to emerge in an extreme outpouring of frustration and anger as well as this massive pulse that results in all of this damage around him. And it's not on purpose. He’s just a lost boy who’s unable to handle the situation he’s been thrown into.

The last time they saw each other, his mother essentially disowned him. Will he ever be in a position to accept that?

So, I hope. It's really intriguing how, by the conclusion of the season, we see him accept assistance from his sworn foes, the Red Daggers, specifically Kareem [Aramis Knight]. They have undoubtedly known about one another their entire lives, therefore the fact that he is prepared to do that indicates that he is making a change for the better. That's probably silly to compare it, but it reminds me of Bucky [Sebastian Stan] travelling to Wakanda to cool down and restore his composure and self-assurance. Therefore, it is hoped that Kamran will likewise align himself appropriately and truly discover who he is and what he stands for. The lovely thing about this programme is how Kamala teaches Kamran all she has discovered on her journey. She tries to calm him down in the dome scene from episode six, and she is successful in doing so. Therefore, perhaps, he is moving in the right direction.

When did you first become aware of the Brie Larsen cameo? Was that page in the script missing, as one might expect?

(Laughs.) The script was lacking that. I picked up on a few small murmurs here and there, but there are so many different rumours floating around that it's hard to know what to believe. People try to look out the window of Trilith Studios just to see what's happening next door. Loki and Spider-Man: No Way Home were once neighbours. As a result, there was always something exciting going on, and learning that Brie would be appearing on our show was obviously unbelievable news. Even I had just seen it for the first time, and we were all very excited. It gave me goosebumps . Iman in The Marvels just makes me so happy, too. I'll be standing in the front row for her when the movie is released to support her. It's already so wonderfully put up.

For the purpose of visiting those other stages, did you don a disguise?

(Laughs.) No, I didn't. During lunch breaks or other times, we would pretty much just laze about the parking lot, although I do recall once spotting the three Spider-Man stunt doubles eating lunch outdoors while dressed as Spider-Man. They were eating sandwiches on a very hot day. I thought, "Oh, cool. I suppose that is a thing. I used to pinch myself in those situations since everything was taking place at these studios. So it was really surreal and an absolute honor to just be a part of this web, pardon the pun, and this franchise.

Speaking of disguises, I believe you wore one to the first episode of AvengerCon.

(Laughs.) I really am a huge Marvel fan. It was amazing to go around that set; it seemed like a real convention. The scope of the event exceeded my expectations, and there were people wearing the most amazing cosplay costumes. We both said, "Well, we don't want to miss out," including Saagar [Shaikh], who portrays Kamala's on-screen brother Aamir. Therefore, we dressed up as Iron Man (Shaikh) and Captain America (Shah), and you can see us in episode one. We appear to be standing next to Bruno and Kamala at one point, if memory serves. We were surprised that we made the cut, but it was just a cute little cameo for us to remember .It's a little like the Where's Wally? scenario. [Writer's Note: That is Where's Waldo? in the British version.] But because we were simply messing around and causing trouble, that was a pretty funny day on set.

Finally, in episode six, the word "mutation" is used. Was there another page in your script that was missing?

That was only disclosed to a small group of people. Obviously, everyone's brains blew because it was such a major freak-out situation. When we first learned about it, we were all just trying to comprehend the information while maintaining our composure. When the scenario occurred, I was present on set and simply stood back and observed. As the scene was taking place, I could see how happy everyone was, including the entire team in video village. But what a privilege it is to be able to incorporate that into the MCU. One of the most thrilling things is definitely that.

Did you, Matt, and Iman like acting out this fictitious love triangle?

guy, big time. We all spend a lot of time together and are quite close. In actuality, we were grouped together for Christmas. We spent Christmas Day watching The Lord of the Rings and Star Wars nonstop because Iman and I were unable to travel home due to COVID, and Matt, bless him, chose to stay with us. We even celebrated New Year's together, and activities like that helped to strengthen our group dynamic. Our dynamic is incredible, and we're hoping that our camaraderie comes over on screen. Because we all genuinely love and respect one another, working together has always been enjoyable.

There is a discussion over Kamran's car and who has the best claim to it at the conclusion of episode six. So who do you believe deserves it the most?

That one is difficult. (Laughs.) If Kamala is unavailable, my boy Bruno will have to step up. Kamran should repay him for costing him Circle Q, in my opinion. So I think a nice Porsche may possibly bring a grin to his face. It's a small measure of restitution on Kamran's part.

What Marvel project would you want Kevin Feige to include Kamran in if you could enter his office right now?

I'm really sorry. It's as if you're a genie right now, and if I had the chance to make a wish, it would be for Kamran to somehow engage with Bucky. That would be incredibly fantastic since I think he could learn a lot from the Winter Soldier. Having said that, Kareem, the Red Dagger, is definitely a wonderful person to teach Kamran handle his powers from the Noor, so I would also love to learn from him.

What kind of role or genre have you been fantasising about since you were young?

To be honest, I just want to keep working on projects that make me feel uncomfortable and challenged. I've been extremely fortunate to be a part of some projects that have a drastically different feel and genre than my upcoming ones. I intend to continue acting in ways that I believe to be true. I'm aware that's a nebulous response, but I simply want to keep pushing myself and challenging myself. Damage, a limited series that will premiere at the end of the year, as well as my other project, which is presently nameless and is being directed by Jennifer Kaytin Robinson, are both very different from Ms. Marvel .And because that has the vibe of a twisted Hitchcockian drama, they all just feel completely different. I'll try to keep moving in that direction.

Do you have a timeline for when you might next play Kamran?

I wish I could phone the Marvel offices and ask them a million questions, but I'm afraid I can't. However, I would play Kamran again in a heartbeat if and when that ever occurs. I wouldn't blink at all. I therefore hope to have the chance once more. The entire team behind this story has told it with such sincerity and passion, and there are so many beautiful characters. As a result, Kamala has a very supportive group surrounding her, and I hope we can all get together again soon to play. For many of us, it was truly a once in a lifetime experience. Of course, I can only speak for myself, but it was a dream job and I would kill to play Kamran once more, twice more, and again.