Arian Nik
Born
Arian Mirzaali

(1994-11-04) 4 November 1994
Leeds, England
Alma materMountview Academy of Theatre Arts
Years active2016–present

Arian Mirzaali (born 4 November 1994), known professionally as Arian Nik, is an English actor and writer. He stars as the titular character of the ITVX horror sitcom Count Abdulla (2023).

Early life

Nik was born in Leeds, and brought up by a single mother until age 6;[1] he and his mother stayed at a Women's Aid Hostel before getting a council flat in Meanwood.[2] Nik attended Roundhay Comprehensive School.[3] He also took classes with the Television Workshop.[4] He was originally going to study Broadcast Journalism at university, but instead convinced his parents to let him go to drama school.[5] Nik graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Acting from Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in 2016, and served on the board of Mountview until 2019.[6][7]

Career

Nik began his career in theatre, playing Remedial Remedies at Upstairs at The Gatehouse in 2016. That same year, he voiced Ammar Elkady for the Doctor Who audio drama Absolute Power from Big Finish Productions. This was followed by roles in The Ugly One at the Park Theatre[8] and The Last Testament of Lillian Bilocca at Hull Truck Theatre in 2017, The Village at Theatre Royal Stratford East in 2018,[9] and Pufferfish for the 2019 VAULT Festival.[10] He co-developed Cracked for the Arcola Theatre.[11]

Also in 2019, Nik made his television debut with guest appearances in the BBC spy thriller Killing Eve as Jay and the Channel 4 teen drama Ackley Bridge as Yusef Ibrahim. This was followed by his feature film debut in 2020 with small roles in the Disney adaptation of Artemis Fowl and the Irish comedy-drama Dating Amber. He also appeared in an episode of the BBC soap opera Doctors as Hamed Khan.[12]

In 2021, Nik joined the cast of the ITV crime drama The Bay for its second series as Theo Anvari and the CBBC spinoff Still So Awkward as Josh Cooper. He appeared in the 2022 drama film Allelujah and was nominated for an Offie for his performance in the play Kabul Goes Pop. After protesting in person in London, Nik wrote an article for BRICKS Magazine that November to spread awareness about the death of Mahsa Amini and its aftermath.[13]

As of 2023, Nik leads the ITVX comedy horror series Count Abdulla as titular character Abdulla Khan, a Muslim doctor who gets bitten by a vampire (Jaime Winstone).[14]

Personal life

Nik lives in London with his long-term partner.[15]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2013 No Regrets Tom Short film
2020 Artemis Fowl Kanker Disney+ film
Dating Amber Adam
2022 The Bower Jude Short film
Allelujah Abdul Kashani
TBA The Beekeeper Tommy Netflix film

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2019 Killing Eve Jay Episode: "Smell Ya Later"
Ackley Bridge Yusef Ibrahim 1 episode
2020 Van der Valk Kalari Ramecker Episode: "Love in Amsterdam"
Doctors Hamed Khan Episode: "Rejection"
2021 The Bay Theo Anvari 3 episodes (series 2)
Still So Awkward Josh Cooper Main role
2023 Count Abdulla Abdulla Khan Lead role
TBA Passenger Nish Chowdry

Stage

Year Title Role Notes
2016 Remedial Remedies Jack Upstairs at The Gatehouse, London
2017 The Ugly One Karlmann Park Theatre, London
The Last Testament of Lillian Bilocca Terry Smallbone Hull Truck Theatre, Kingston upon Hull
2018 The Village Mekhal Theatre Royal Stratford East
Cracked — Arcola Theatre, London
Co-developed
2019 Pufferfish Chris Stadsschouwburg, Amsterdam / VAULT Festival
2022 Kabul Goes Pop: Music Television Afghanistan Farook Brixton House, London / England tour
Sokhan Begoo Various Royal Court Theatre, London[16]
2023 Blue Mist Rashid

Audio

Year Title Role Notes
2016 Doctor Who: Absolute Power Ammar Elkady Big Finish Productions

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2021 Apolo Awards Best Ensemble Cast Dating Amber Nominated [lower-alpha 1]
2022 Off West End Awards Lead Performance in a Play Kabul Goes Pop Nominated [17]

Notes

  1. ↑ Shared with Dating Amber cast.

References

  1. ↑ Johnson, Travis (3 October 2023). "'Count Abdulla' star Arian Nik talks faith, folklore, and the relatability of a Muslim vampire (Interview)". SBS What's On. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  2. ↑ Pryor, John-Paul (June 2023). "Talking About A Revolution: Arian Nik on Muslim vampires, radical authenticity and social conditioning". House Collective. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  3. ↑ Laughland, Oliver (1 July 2011). "Do modular GCSE examinations encourage resits?". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
  4. ↑ "October Spotlight -Arian Nik". Karolina Heller. 14 October 2016. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
  5. ↑ "Arian Nik". Voicebank London. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  6. ↑ "Mountview Alumni News March 2019". Mountview. March 2019. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
  7. ↑ "steering group members". MENA Arts UK. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
  8. ↑ "The Ugly One At Park Theatre, Interview: Arian Nik: "Art, Theatre & Performance Is One Of The Best Outlets Of Frustration & Another Opportunity To Have You Voice Heard."". Carl Woodward. 13 July 2017. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
  9. ↑ Vine, Hannah (13 September 2018). "First Look at The Village at Theatre Royal Stratford East". Playbill. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  10. ↑ "Pufferfish". Matthew Schmolle Productions. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
  11. ↑ Collinson, Tom (23 September 2018). "Strands". Arcola Theatre. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
  12. ↑ Timblick, Simon. "Doctors spoilers: WHO is spying on Ruhma Carter?". What's on TV. Archived from the original on 16 May 2020. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  13. ↑ Nik, Arian (23 November 2022). ""We Are Tired of Hiding. We Are Tired of Whispering. We Are Revolting."". BRICKS Magazine. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  14. ↑ Darvill, Josh (22 August 2022). "Count Abdulla: Arian Nik and Jaime Winstone star in new ITVX comedy". TellyMix. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
  15. ↑ Reid, Madline (22 June 2023). "Count Abdulla Star Arian Nik On Bringing His Muslim Vampire To TV Screens". Bricks. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  16. ↑ "Arian Nik". Royal Court Theatre. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  17. ↑ "Arian Nik – Kabul Goes Pop – Brixton House #Offies 2022 #NewNoms: Lead Performance in a Play". Offies. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
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