American Horror Story Star Maaz Ali Stays True to His Muslim and South Asian Roots
One of Maaz Ali’s earliest memories as a performer was visiting his family in Pakistan at four years old. During a dull moment at a family party, he began dancing to the music, making funny gestures and movements as his family watched in awe.
“I don’t know what came over me, I was only four for God’s sake,” Ali recalled with a laugh. “The response was laughter and people were smiling. I remember distinctly that feeling of ‘Wow, being up there was my own unique way of communicating with everybody.’ That feeling sort of lasted forever.”
Now, the Pakistani Indian actor and model has made his mark in the film industry with projects like the short film Sultana, voice acting in the animated series Record of Ragnarok and Disney+ series Ms. Marvel, and most recently, starring as Kamal in Season 12 of American Horror Story: Delicate. In an exclusive video call interview with EnVi Media, Ali shared insights into growing up on Bollywood films, provided an inside look into the AHS set, and discussed navigating the industry as a South Asian and Muslim actor.
Early Life and Growing Up With Bollywood
Ali was born and raised in California to a family who is proud of their Muslim and South Asian identity. Being the youngest in his immediate family and having over 90 cousins, Ali had many characters and personalities to observe and learn from.
In his culture, there is a tradition where the father, or another designated person, recites the call to prayer in a newborn’s right ear. Ali’s late uncle, who auditioned for Bollywood in the ‘60s and was friends with Sunil Dutt, performed this tradition for Ali. This sparked a running joke in Ali’s family that he followed in his uncle’s footsteps. “My father would joke, saying, ‘I asked you to recite the call to prayer in his ear, but it seems like you recited other things. So can we talk about that? What’s going on here?’” Ali shared.
Growing up in a family with a deep appreciation for the arts further inspired Ali to pursue his passion. Many of his early memories involved watching his mother laugh wholeheartedly at shows like I Love Lucy, The Carol Burnett Show, Three’s Company, or any film featuring Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan.
“I remember thinking how nice would it be if I could get her, or people around me, to laugh the same way that she did. Eventually, that became my way of communicating with people. So I began to impersonate everybody around me, especially my siblings and parents,” Ali added.
From Dance to Acting
Akin to his first childhood memory, Ali’s first love was dance. Over time, this creative outlet slowly made him see movies and TV shows from a different perspective regarding movement and creativity. Determined to see if this path was right for him, Ali explored the entertainment world in Los Angeles and took an acting class to learn the intricacies of acting, breaking down scenes, and developing characters. Eventually, Ali realized he had fallen in love with acting and decided to pursue it dedicatedly.
In 2016, Ali starred in a music video for “Circles” by Russian synthpop band Tesla Boy, a role he considered a breakthrough for his career. The video, nominated for Best Music Video at the SXSW Film Festival, allowed Ali to combine his love for acting and dancing. In the video, he played four characters with their own prosthetics, personalities, and dance styles.
“It allowed me to sort of push the bounds of my imagination, so that’s still one of my favorite projects I’ve ever had the pleasure of working on. It really all combined all my loves together, of acting and dancing, character work and movement, and it ended up being such a unique body of work, unlike anything anyone had ever seen…It gave me the confidence to keep going,” Ali said.
Securing His Role in American Horror Story: Delicate
Ali’s journey to landing a role in Season 12 of American Horror Story was a mix of hard work and divine timing. “It felt like a miracle from God,” Ali said about the moment he received the news.
In the audition process, projects often cloak their true identities behind codenames. American Horror Story, for example, was simply known as “Hamptons,” leaving Ali to submit his self-tape in March 2023 without a clue of what was in store. A month later, Ali and his wife received some difficult financial news while fasting during the last 10 days of Ramadan. Suddenly, his phone rang with the life-changing news. “I woke my wife up, and she likes to bug me about it because instead of celebrating, I was just numb. Not just for a day, but for weeks because I couldn’t believe it. I was trying to process what I had just heard,” Ali shared.
Transitioning from living in Los Angeles to New York for filming, Ali dedicated himself to preparation while keeping the news to himself. As Kamal, Anna Victoria Alcott’s (played by Emma Roberts) bodyguard, Ali immersed himself in research, particularly on elite security guards like Will Geddes, to shape his character’s psyche and motivations.
“I read the scripts over and over again. I tried to ask as many questions as possible about the character…My whole thing was like, ‘Hey, I’m virtually an unknown person here on set, and I want to deliver a strong performance.’ I wanted to be an asset on set, that was my first priority,” Ali said.
Behind the Scenes with the AHS Cast
“It was so much fun, and it was a dream,” Ali remarked about collaborating with the AHS cast, crew, and directors. “Working with such high-profile talent, it was interesting to see which actors had similar preparation processes to mine, and how some differed in their approaches.” He said that despite their high caliber, once he got to know the cast and crew, everyone went out of their way to express how happy they were to work with him and to affirm that he had earned his spot.
Recalling a memorable day, Ali reflected on a close-up scene with Roberts. Her thoughtful gesture of suggesting he take off his jacket so he wouldn’t overheat during a long day of filming made him feel more comfortable on set.
Such gestures weren’t uncommon on set. Ali mentions sharing light-hearted moments with Cara Delevingne and her infectious humor. “We both bonded [over] growing up with really scrawny calves and that insecurity that we have,” Ali said with a laugh. “So she was like, ‘Oh my God, let me see your calves’ and was looking at them…Like we were just good for each other and we gave each other confidence.”
Ali also mentions Matt Czuchry as someone who became a “brother” to him on set. They bonded over being huge Golden State Warriors and Steph Curry fans, watching the 2023 playoffs in between recordings and “wallowing in each other’s misery” when the Warriors lost. “We just all became really good buddies. And so much so that when we returned after the strikes to film, we were really excited to see each other and we developed a little family so it was nice,” Ali added.
Navigating Hollywood as a South Asian and Muslim Actor
Ali is the first South Asian series regular lead on American Horror Story. He finds the experience of seeing his name in the credits surreal, and he thanks Halley Pfeiffer and Ryan Murphy for taking a chance on his skills regardless of his background and identity.
“What I enjoyed was that the role of Kamal wasn’t specifically written for a South Asian. It was just for someone who can play a bodyguard. It was cool for me to focus on how to be the best bodyguard possible. I do think that we are starting to see more roles like that, but I think we’re still knocking on the door. Hopefully, we’ll see more opportunities where we can just say, ‘Oh, for this role, it just so happens the fitting actor is South Asian.’” Ali said.
With over 10 years in the film industry, Ali stays committed to authenticity and staying “true to his beliefs.” This involves not only turning down roles that perpetuate stereotypes about Muslims or South Asians but also deciding to avoid roles that include intimate scenes. Fortunately, Ali has a team that knows his boundaries and actively looks for meaningful roles that don’t compromise his identity.
Ali always travels with a prayer mat during filming, especially during American Horror Story. “For as many challenges, there are just as many opportunities, especially nowadays, to bring our whole selves to the place we work in,” Ali reflected. “For me, it’s about having my values and boundaries respected. And I think all actors agree that that’s what they want and deserve.”
Representing South Asian Fashion
His dedication to his cultural identity extends beyond acting and into the world of fashion. As a model, Ali frequently showcases South Asian designs on prestigious runways and red carpets. His modeling journey began when he walked LA Fashion Week after an open casting call, which later introduced him to his modeling and commercial agent. Ali cites the 2023 South Asian New York Fashion Week as one of his favorite fashion events, which celebrated designers from the diaspora and emphasized cultural diversity on a global stage.
Ali takes every opportunity to show off his culture, such as re-wearing his Mehndi outfit for Netflix’s Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar and wearing traditional attire for Dev Patel’s Monkey Man screening.
“When I first went to casting calls a decade ago for modeling, there wasn’t much room for South Asian talent. But now that’s changed,” Ali said. “My love for fashion and trying to look good always keeps calling me back to the modeling world.”
Voice Acting and Future Goals
Besides his on-screen roles, Ali has a notable collection of voice-over works, including Buddha in the English dub of Record of Ragnarok and Chairman Rose in Detective Pikachu. He has showcased skills across various roles, including his portrayal of an Pakistani pilot in the Ms. Marvel ADR, where he spoke traditional Urdu, bringing authenticity to his character.
“While I’m typically auditioning for roles that have nothing to do with my South Asian or Muslim identity, the voice-over auditions I book are closely related to those identities,” Ali noted. “That’s what’s been interesting about my career trajectory — I get to play with different dialects and accents in voice-over, but on-screen I haven’t had that opportunity yet.”
Currently, Ali is involved in an undisclosed project that requires a South Asian accent. Looking ahead, he expresses a keen interest in roles in psychological thrillers, fantasy, and historical epics. He is drawn to roles that challenge him and push his boundaries in films similar to Gladiator, Lord of the Rings, Braveheart, or Harry Potter.
Above all, Ali desires to evolve as a performer and is committed to delivering impactful performances across diverse genres and formats. “I feel there are many ways to exist in Hollywood, but for me personally, it’s to be the best actor I can be. And that means giving the craft of acting 100%. You have to keep training, pushing your comfort zones, and finding things that really move and motivate you. That’s my strength as a performer – always trying to refine my craft and see the fruits of that focused labor,” Ali shared.
Want to read more exclusive interviews? Check out our recent conversation with Yuyu Kitamura here!
