Riz Ahmed reveals pact he has with Dev Patel, Hasan Minhaj, and Aziz Ansari
Riz Ahmed, Dev Patel, Hasan Minhaj, and Aziz Ansari have a "pact" to play along with fans who mistake them for one another - but to always leave a good impression.
Riz Ahmed, Dev Patel, Hasan Minhaj, and Aziz Ansari have a "pact" to play along with fans who mistake them for one another.
The Night Of actor Riz has grown used to people confusing him with the Slumdog Millionaire actor in particular so he doesn't bother to correct them anymore and the stars have agreed to just go with the assumptions - but be sure to leave a good impression.
In a comedy actor roundtable for The Hollywood Reporter, Riz told fellow stars Harrison Ford, Glen Powell, Owen Wilson, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Zach Braff: "I met [Kravitz] at a fashion show once, and he’s so charismatic. I didn’t even know what he was saying, but I remember him telling me: 'Any time you want to come stay on the farm, let me know.'
"So, boys, we’re going after this! No, he was being polite. I think he thought I was Dev Patel.
"Actually, that’s a moment in my TV show [Bait]. In the first episode, I get confused for Dev Patel. I called up Dev and said, 'Listen, I’m going to do this bit in the show because it keeps happening to me.' And he was like, 'Yeah, same here.'
"He got nominated for a BAFTA, and a famous fashion brand put up a photo of me and said, 'Congratulations to Dev Patel on his BAFTA.' And I’m retweeting it, like, 'Yeah, I got nominated.'
Ahmed I don’t correct people now. I have this with a few different people: Aziz Ansari, Hasan Minhaj, Dev. And we have a pact, don’t be a d***. Don’t let people think that Dev is a bad guy or Hasan is a bad guy."
Similarly,. Scrubs star Zach doesn't always correct people who think he is Dax Shepard because he feels awkward.
He said: "It happens to me with Dax Shepard a lot. People are effusive and they’re giving me compliments and they’re saying, 'I just love you so much.'
"And then, little by little, I start realising that they’re talking about Dax. I don’t always know how to get out of it."
Asked if he corrects them, he said: "Depends on what mood I’m in. Sometimes I’m like, 'Thank you. Yeah, it was so fun making CHiPs.' And then, 'Yeah, Kristen’s great. She’s the best.' Then other times, I’m like, 'No, you’re thinking of Dax. We do look alike. He’s a great actor.'
Owen noted he gets confused with his brother Luke Wilson, and also Woody Harrelson - which fellow Texan Glen could relate to.
Owen said: "I get my brother, Luke. I get Woody Harrelson. I think if you’re from Texas, it happens."
Glen noted: "All the Texans get mixed up a bit."
All of the group admitted they usually "play along" with the cases of mistaken identity.
Owen said: "Yeah, you don’t bother to correct it if somebody’s gone too far down the line.
"You don’t want to take the wind out of their sails."
Riz agreed: "Particularly if it really means something to them."
Zach added: "It’s easier to go, 'Thank you.' ”
