Iman Vellani Is Muslim like Her Marvel Character – She Says She's More than Just Her Religion

Iman Vellani hadn't considered acting as a career, but in a twist of fate, she became one of Hollywood's most famous and youngest rising stars. What's more, the actress didn't only play a character she'd idolized as a teen, but through her portrayal of Marvel's first Muslim superhero, the world glimpsed her own journey of self-discovery.

2020 was Iman Vellani's final year of high school, and towards its end, she auditioned for the role of Kamala Khan, a.k.a. the title character of "Ms. Marvel." On her last day of school, she received news that she'd been cast. Filming the superhero series meant she had to put aside her college plans and pursue acting full-time.

The 20-year-old is also set to star in this year's upcoming film "The Marvels." Playing Khan has been a monumental achievement for Vellani, both for the world and personally. Although she had idolized Khan since she was a teen, stepping into the hero's shoes required some introspection.

Iman Vellani's Parents Are from Pakistan

Vellani drew her first breath in Karachi, Pakistan, on September 3, 2002. She was born into a Muslim family that relocated to Canada when she was one year old. Growing up in Ontario, Vellani was among countless fans of the Marvel comics, but she was particularly enamored with the "Ms. Marvel" comics, which debuted in 2013.

Reading about a Muslim character in a superhero universe was most fulfilling for Vellani; Khan wasn't reduced to her religion or culture. "The first issue I ever bought was number 19. It was called 'Mecca' and in it was about Eid. I was like, 'Bro, I celebrate Eid!'" she gleefully recalled.

Vellani felt that Marvel showed the full spectrum of a Pakistani-American teenager in the comics and transmuted it successfully into the show. In June 2022, she reflected on how she never realized she'd been oblivious to the lack of well-rounded Muslim representation in film and T.V. until she encountered Ms. Marvel.

Iman Vellani Has Many Similarities with Khan

In "Ms. Marvel," Khan is an immigrant from Pakistan and is immensely obsessed with the Avengers. Like Vellani, Khan eventually steps into the shoes of her idols, though her journey comes with its challenges. Vellani once dressed up as Khan for Halloween, and the starlet likened playing the character to "cosplaying, but on a different level."

And indeed, her portrayal of Khan was significant. "Here we are, showing Muslims on-screen celebrating Eid, having fun, dancing, making jokes... I never see this on T.V.," she said. She added that Khan's life mimicked her own, as she frequently attended cultural and religious events too.

However, she also observed, "Kamala represents so much more than just culture and religion." When she opened up about preparing to be Ms. Marvel, Vellani confessed that she'd been dismissive of her faith until she won the role. It created a disconnect between her and Khan, leading the actress to dig into her ancestry and heritage to find more of herself in the character.

Her efforts fostered a deeper appreciation for her roots, and they authenticated Ms. Marvel on-screen, whose faith informs her identity and actions. Still, Vellani maintained that her faith was only one part of her and Khan's life, as she said, "Culture and religion are never the main thing of her personality, it was just some part of her life."

Iman Vellani Knows She's Playing a Role in Normalizing the Muslim Experience

Reflecting on that role, Vellani felt the comics excelled in decentralizing Khan's religion and heritage because there was more to the character, adding, "So we really wanted to make it normal and normalize the 'Muslim experience,' if you will, and that's kind of how it was for me."

In another interview, Vellani explained that the show spoke for itself but acknowledged that it only represented a facet of that very experience. She hoped it would inspire more Muslim and South Asian creatives to tell their stories. Next, she will star alongside Brie Larson, Tom Hiddleston's wife Zawe Ashton, Gemma Chan, and Tessa Thompson in "The Marvels."