Young actor aims to break down cultural barriers

Danyal Zafar, a 19-year-old actor from the Black Country, has recently landed a significant role in the BBC comedy series Man Like Mobeen. He expressed his surprise and excitement at being cast in the show, which he sees as a vital opportunity to help break down cultural barriers for South Asian actors. Danyal plays the character Moped in the fifth and final season of the series. He shared that he auditioned for the role via a Zoom call from his bedroom, and getting the part feels like a step closer to fulfilling the dream he has had since he was eight years old. Danyal believes that the success of shows like Citizen Khan, Man Like Mobeen, Virdee, and Ackley Bridge indicates a growing interest in South Asian stories on television. He emphasized the importance of these series in challenging stereotypes and changing perceptions within his community. 'I'm from the Pakistani community, so acting is often looked down upon,' he explained. 'In our culture, professions like doctors and lawyers are seen as the only respectable jobs. ' Danyal had just completed his BTEC in acting when he stumbled upon the casting call on Instagram. He was relaxing at home after finishing his course at Halesowen College when he decided to give it a shot. He felt that his training had prepared him well for auditions, stating, 'You're quite confident in yourself when you're doing them regularly. ' However, he admitted to feeling a bit starstruck when he first met Guz Khan, the lead actor of Man Like Mobeen. 'A few years back, I was just watching the show with my friends,' he recalled. 'It was surreal to see someone I only knew from the screen in real life. ' The show itself tells the story of a former drug dealer in Birmingham who is trying to lead a good life as a Muslim. Danyal has also recently filmed a small role in an upcoming film titled I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning. While he enjoys acting in both television and film, he mentioned, 'If I just get to perform and I like the role and I like the script, I'll do it. ' Danyal hopes that his journey can inspire others from his community to pursue acting. 'If I can inspire anyone to just follow what they want to do when they dream, honestly that would be the best feeling on earth,' he said.