August 1 will be a big day for the reading community on the internet comprising the Bookstagram and Booktok section. The fans are seated and pumped to catch one of the most popular books, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, come to life on screen. The book, written by Holly Jackson, holds a significant place in its readers’ hearts all across the globe. But what makes it even more special for South Asians is the opportunity to watch someone from the community represent them on a global platform.
The male lead of the story, Ravi Singh, is played by the newcomer Zain Iqbal, who is ready to take over our screens and social media (he is already all over our FYP). If you are chronically online or have read the book, you must be familiar with the allure of Iqbal’s character, Ravi. He’s a funny guy who comes up with cute nicknames for his girlfriend (Pip, played by Emma Myers) and helps her in solving murder mysteries.
Catching a brown character sans the cultural jokes and ignorant stereotypes is refreshing. In an exclusive conversation, Iqbal sat with ELLE to talk about his big break, representation, icons, and more:
ELLE: Tell us how you started your acting journey.
Zain Iqbal (ZI): I have always had a love for films and acting since childhood. So, I decided to try it out and see where it goes. I started with student films, did classes here and there, and then you can say I caught the bug, I guess. And then I just started doing it more. And then I started to enjoy making characters and stepping into someone’s shoes and feeling like what they’re going through.
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ELLE: What was the first reaction after signing Ravi’s role?
ZI: Immense relief at first. I have auditioned quite a lot. So it was like not knowing if I was going to get it or not. So I was very grateful. And also to step into such a big role and be a well-known character is a great thing. Even in terms of representation, it’s such a good character to play for us people.
ELLE: You’re right that it’s such a prominent character, and then ‘A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder’ is a global phenomenon. So, did you feel any pressure to do justice to the show or the character?
ZI: There is pressure, and when I was auditioning, I didn’t know what I was actually getting into but found out about its actual scale later on. And I mean, you’re so lost in the work at the start; you do feel the pressure, but then you get a hold of it. There’s always so much to do, so you don’t have time to think about it. You’re straight into reading the scripts, making your character, and rehearsing the scenes, so I was just focused on the work and sort of forgot about its pressures.
ELLE: How was your first day on the set and your experience working with Emma Meyers?
ZI: It was amazing. Our first day was a car scene. We were sitting in a car doing a scene. It felt surreal, finally getting to do it with all after the preparation and being on the set, watching everything done together. It felt like I was living the dream. Emma is very amazing and supportive. She’s a good friend and has been very patient with me, taught me a lot and I felt at ease having her next to me.
ELLE: Have you read the books? As you said you weren’t aware of the books and the story, what was the first impression of Holly’s writing?
ZI: The storyline is very gripping, with lots of twists and turns and a great plot. It’s pretty exciting, and it has a bit of everything for everyone, and touches on many themes. Young people are trying to figure out where they’re at in their lives, sexual abuse, and racism. It’s a good read, and Holly has made a whole world, which is so incredibly detailed.
ELLE: How excited are you about the show’s Netflix release globally?
ZI: I’m super excited. Netflix is the platform on which the show needs to go on. When I want to watch something, I’ll go on Netflix and see what it’s about and what I want to watch. Everyone and their mum’s got Netflix. So, you know, you click on Netflix, and you’re going to catch our show, which makes me happy because, for non-readers, being able to watch the show is something we really want. We want a broader audience to be able to see it and enjoy the show.
ELLE: What was your favourite scene when you shot with Emma or other cast members?
ZI: Without giving away many spoilers, in episode four, we did a sequence of scenes in a hotel where Ravi gets to actually have fun for the first time getting out of his shell. That was very fun for me. And then another one I can think of is in episode five, where Ravi comes to Pip after she does something really crazy. So, in episode five, there’s a sequence of scenes where he comes to see her, and he spends time with her, trying to look after her and stop something terrible from happening. I won’t spill much, but you will soon know what it is!
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ELLE: What do you like to do besides working on scripts or acting in your free time?
ZI: I’m pretty boring because acting was a hobby at the start, but now it’s starting to become a career. I’m really lucky, but I do simple things like work out, watch movies, go for a walk, and buy a coffee.
ELLE: Who has been your inspiration in the acting field? Who are some people you have enjoyed watching on screen?
ZI: I’ve been watching films for a long time. My dad would play the classics like ‘The Godfather’ and ‘The Good, the Bad and the Ugly’, when I was a little kid, so Marlon Brando and Clint Eastwood are the actors I grew up watching. And when I started taking acting seriously, I started looking for people like me. So then, well, there are only a few people doing it, and you can count them on one hand. So then I started to look at people like Riz Ahmed and Dev Patel and how they’re going about in the industry, and I can relate to them the most.
ELLE: Should we keep space for the sequels in advance?
ZI: Season one has a very nice ending but it leaves a door for future seasons. I would love a second season, but it’s in the viewer’s hands. If it gets the views, we will get season two.
ELLE: Share a message for your fans in India who were patiently waiting for the show.
ZI: Thank you so much for waiting, and thank you for your patience. I hope you enjoy the series!
Also, read: 8 Best Selling Books That Should Get An On-Screen Adaptation ASAP!
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