Aliens in America

Adhir Kalyan is not a Pakistani Muslim, but this doesn't mean he doesn't feel an overwhelming responsibility in portraying a character of that descent on The CW's comedy series, Aliens in America, especially since we are living in a world post-9/11.

"I feel a responsibility to the Muslim community to portray this character in an accurate and a positive light," Kalyan told the New York Daily News.  "After September 11, there has been a lot of anxiety and fear when it comes to the concept of Islam and Muslims, and this is an opportunity to present, in a more accurate light, what that culture and civilization and history represent."

Originally from South Africa, Adhir Kalyan relocated to London in order to pursue his acting career.  Prior to landing Aliens in America, he guest-starred in a few television productions, namely Holby City, Spooks and Fair City. 

Aliens in America is quickly becoming one of the fall's big hits, consequently turning Kalyan into new celebrity.

"I'm just trying to take it a step at a time and focus on the work, and hopefully the rest of it will take care of itself,” Kalyan said of his newfound fame.  "[I've been] hanging out with [Aliens in America co-star] Dan [Byrd], and he's been involved with the industry for quite some time now.  So people are always coming up to say, I saw you in Cinderella Story or Clubhouse, and he always handles it with such grace and such a gentlemanly manner that it seems a small trade-off really, the time that you give to somebody because they're a fan of your work."

On Aliens in America, Adhir Kalyan plays Raja, a foreign exchange student from Pakistan who comes to live with the Tolchuk family.  Unbeknownst to Raja, the family matriarch, Franny (Amy Pietz), actually signed up for the program in the hopes of hosting a handsome Nordic teen, whom she believed would help her son, Justin (Byrd), become more popular.  Ultimately though, the family accepts Raja, although not the same can be said for the majority of Justin's high school.

"My high school experience was very, very different from Raja's," Kalyan said.  "There weren't really any segregated groups representing the jocks or the academics or the drama students.  But as an actor, you try to surrender yourself to the circumstances and completely immerse yourself."

For the role, Kalyan said he spoke with a number of Muslim leaders, sharing with them the show's script.

"The response, by and large, was positive,” Kalyan told the New York Daily News.

Aliens in America airs Mondays at 8:30/7:30c.


-Lisa Claustro, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: New York Daily News
(Image Courtesy of The CW)