Riz Ahmed said missing out on a role in Danny Boyle’s 2008 film *Slumdog Millionaire* left him feeling that opportunities for young British South Asian actors were exceptionally scarce. The rejection briefly made him fear that a comparable leading role would not appear again, illustrating the limited representation he perceived in the industry at the time.

Ahmed auditioned for the lead role, which ultimately went to Dev Patel, after already working professionally for several years. He recalled believing the film was unusual in offering a major part to a young brown British actor, against a backdrop in which he saw few viable screen opportunities for people like him in 2004 and 2005. *Slumdog Millionaire* later became a major critical and commercial success, winning eight Academy Awards.