Espionage

Riz Ahmed Reveals MI5 and MI6 Repeatedly Tried to Recruit Him

Name: Riz Ahmed Reveals MI5 and MI6 Repeatedly Tried to Recruit Him
Uploaded: 2026-06-10T07:21:00+00:00
Description: 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.

On Purpose with Jay Shetty · Riz Ahmed: How to Silence Your Inner Critic (And Build REAL Self Worth) · June 10, 2026

On Purpose with Jay Shetty

Riz Ahmed: How to Silence Your Inner Critic (And Build REAL Self Worth)

"After I became more known as an actor, they reached out several times saying, 'Do you want to help us with messaging? Do you want to sit down?' I was like, 'No, I'm an artist. I'm not getting involved, mate. No, no, thank you.'"

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.

About this episode

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.

Key takeaways

Ahmed revealed British intelligence agencies MI5 and MI6 made multiple recruitment attempts after he became famous, which he refused.
One week into filming Star Wars, Ahmed developed a severe autoimmune condition that hospitalized him for over two months and left him unable to walk.
Ahmed believes his life-threatening illness stemmed from an out-of-control critical inner voice causing his body to attack itself.
At his lowest point in hospital facing possible death, Ahmed made a spiritual bargain with God promising to dedicate his life to giving.
Ahmed was held at knifepoint by racist skinheads at age eight, a formative trauma that shaped his lifelong navigation of identity.
The new series Bait explores the distance between public and private self as a measurement of shame, drawn from Ahmed's personal experiences.
Ahmed discussed how external validation and awards provide only fleeting satisfaction, while flow state and forgetting oneself brings true fulfillment.