On this episode of On Purpose, host Jay Shetty sits down with Academy Award-winning actor Riz Ahmed for an intimate two-hour conversation exploring identity, shame, mental health, and the gap between public and private selves. Ahmed made several striking revelations, including that British intelligence agencies MI5 and MI6 repeatedly attempted to recruit him after he gained fame, and that he was hospitalized for over two months during Star Wars filming with a severe autoimmune condition that left him unable to walk. Ahmed attributed the life-threatening illness to an out-of-control critical inner voice, stating he believed his body had turned on itself due to relentless self-attack. The conversation centered heavily on Ahmed's new series Bait, which explores validation-seeking, the performance of identity, and the shame created by distance between who we are and how we're seen. Ahmed revealed childhood trauma of being held at knifepoint by racist skinheads at age eight, an experience that set him on a lifelong journey of code-switching and navigating multiple identities. The two bonded over shared experiences growing up in Northwest London, dealing with vocal and physical health issues tied to mental strain, and the challenge of maintaining authenticity while operating in public-facing careers. Ahmed discussed his recent pilgrimage to Mecca, the importance of devotion to purpose, and his belief that the obstacle is often the key. The episode concluded with Ahmed advocating for everyone to put down their phones, describing how disconnecting from devices fundamentally changes his experience of time and brings him closer to presence.
Academy Award-winning actor Riz Ahmed disclosed that British intelligence agencies MI5 and MI6 made multiple recruitment attempts after he gained prominence. Ahmed refused their approaches to help with messaging campaigns, maintaining his independence as an artist. This revelation was incorporated into his series Bait, where his character faces similar recruitment attempts.
Read this moment →Riz Ahmed revealed he suffered a severe autoimmune condition one week into filming Star Wars, leaving him hospitalized for over two months and unable to walk. He lost significant weight, dropping to under 50 kilograms, and faced uncertainty about whether he would recover. Ahmed believes the condition stemmed from an overly critical inner voice causing his body to attack itself, describing it as being 'at war with myself.'
Read this moment →Reflecting on his hospitalization during Star Wars filming, Riz Ahmed directly connected his autoimmune condition to psychological warfare from an internalized critical voice. He described continuing to rehearse scenes from The Night Of two years after winning an Emmy for the role, illustrating the severity of his self-criticism. Ahmed stated he believes this internal attack manifested physically, nearly killing him.
Read this moment →During his lowest moment hospitalized with a resistant autoimmune condition that threatened his heart and lungs, Riz Ahmed faced the real possibility of death. Alone at night and unable to sleep due to steroids, he made a spiritual bargain with God, promising to dedicate his life to giving if he survived. The next morning doctors discussed starting intensive chemotherapy treatment.
Read this moment →Riz Ahmed recounted a formative childhood trauma where racist skinheads threatened him and his brother with a knife when Ahmed was only eight years old. This violent encounter was his first awareness that his racial difference could make him a target for violence. Ahmed stated this moment set him on a lifelong journey of navigating identity and code-switching, ultimately influencing his decision to become an actor.
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