In a rare show, a Pakistani actress will be seen in a positive role in Hollywood that too in a popular sequel of Marvel movie — ‘Spider-Man: Far From Home’.
Zoha Rahman is a Pakistani-born British actress and featuring in the latest Spider-Man movie as a hijab-wearing Muslim girl who is friends with Spider-Man. She will be playing the role of the Peter Parker (Tom Holland)’s classmate joining him on a trip to Europe.
While she was auditioning, she had no idea what movie was it. When she received call for the film, she sank to the floor in a shock. She could not believe it that she was going to feature in a Marvel movie. It was a dream come true for her.
“When I was asked if I was happy to wear a hijab for this role I basically jumped into it, full force, sent selfies in a dupatta as a hijab straight away to the casting director,” she said.
The movie will hit the screens worldwide in few days. It will feature a Muslim girl as a regular part of American life. Normally, Hollywood movies depict Muslims in odd or foreign character. Zoha Rahman said, “We are still stuck in that little caricature stage. I call it the ‘Trio of Ts.’ We’re either the techie, the terrorist, or the taxi driver.”
“…this should have happened a very long time ago. Everybody knows someone [who wears the hijab] in their real life. So why aren’t we seeing those characters on screen?”
Rahman said when she was on movie set wearing hijab, a woman security guard who was herself wearing scarf asked me if she was featuring in the flick. When she told the guard that yes she was. The woman hugged her tight and she said she was so proud of her.
