Society

Ahmed and Brother Held at Knifepoint by Skinheads at Age Eight

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)

"When I was about 8 years old, me and my brother got put up against a wall by a couple of skinheads. They put a knife to my brother's throat. I remember being 8 years old, looking up at him, and it was just this kind of shocking realization that, oh, I'm different. I'm different in a way that means that I could be in danger."

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.

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.