Akshay Khanna (British actor)

Akshay Khanna
Alma materUniversity of Bristol
Years active2020–present

Akshay Khanna is a British actor. His films include Red, White & Royal Blue and Polite Society (both 2023). On television, he is known for his roles in the BBC One series Chloe (2022) and the Paramount+ series The Doll Factory (2023).

Early life

Khanna graduated from the University of Bristol in 2018 with a Bachelor of Science in Economics and Management. He then completed a two-year Professional Acting Foundational course at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.[1]

Career

Upon completing his drama school course, Khanna appeared in the Greenwich Theatre productions of The Wolves of Willoughby Chase and The Secret Love Life of Ophelia.[2] Khanna made his television debut in 2021 with guest appearances in episodes of the ITV crime dramas Grace and Grantchester.[3] He also began working with Big Finish Productions on a number of Doctor Who audio dramas.[4]

In 2022, Khanna had his first prominent television role as Anish in the BBC One and Amazon Prime thriller miniseries Chloe.[5][6] He starred alongside Harry Lloyd in The Narcissist at Chichester Festival Theatre.[7] The following year, Khanna made his feature film debut in the action comedy Polite Society as Salim[8][9] and the Amazon Prime film adaptation of Red, White & Royal Blue.[10] Also in 2023, Khanna portrayed a fictionalised version of Pre-Raphaelite painter Dante Gabriel Rossetti in the Paramount+ gothic period drama The Doll Factory.[11]

The following year, Khanna starred as SC Zil Ahmed opposite Simone Kessell in the Stan crime drama Critical Incident,[12] for which he put on an Australian accent. He has upcoming roles in the film Row with Sophie Skelton and Bella Dayne[13] and the Apple TV+ series Murderbot.[14]

Filmography

Key
† Denotes films that have not yet been released

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2023 Polite Society Salim
Red, White & Royal Blue Shaan Shrivistava Amazon film
TBA Row † Daniel
TBA Touch † Phillip

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2021 Grace Josh Sayed Episode: "Dead Simple"
Grantchester Josh 1 episode
2022 Chloe Anish Miniseries
2023 The Doll Factory Rossetti Main role
2024 Critical Incident Senior Constable Zilficar 'Zil' Ahmed Main role
TBA Murderbot Ratthi Main role

Video games

Year Title Role Notes
2020 Unknown 9: Awakening Azad
2023 Diablo IV Additional voices

Stage

Year Title Role Notes
2020 The Wolves of Willoughby Chase James / Simon Greenwich Theatre
The Secret Love Life of Ophelia Hamlet
2022 The Narcissist Aide Chichester Festival Theatre

Audio

Year Title Role Notes
2021 The Ninth Doctor Adventures: Planet of the Dead Sacristan Hinge Big Finish Productions
2022 Doctor Who Unbound: Time Killers Riffort
2023 The Eighth of March: A Ghost of Alchemy Doctor Rushton / Officer
Rose Tyler: The Good Samaritan Rohan

References

  1. ^ "Akshay Khanna". Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  2. ^ "First Look: The Wolves of Willoughby Chase at Greenwich Theatre in Rehearsal". Theatre Weekly. 8 December 2020. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  3. ^ Bundel, Ani (7 November 2021). "'Grantchester' Season 6, Episode 6 Recap: Get Used To Disappointment". Telly Visions. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  4. ^ "Akshay Khanna - Contributions". Big Finish Productions. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  5. ^ "Interview with Akshay Khanna who plays Anish in new BBC drama Chloe". Press Party. 1 February 2022. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  6. ^ Morris, Lauren (8 February 2022). "Meet the cast of BBC One drama Chloe". RadioTimes. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  7. ^ Jenner, Simon (4 September 2022). ""The Narcissist", Minerva Theatre, Chichester". Plays International & Europe. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  8. ^ Bradbury, Sarah (15 June 2023). "Polite Society: On the red carpet with Nida Manzoor, Priya Kansara and Akshay Khanna". The Upcoming. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  9. ^ Abdulbaki, Mae (25 April 2023). "Polite Society Cast & Character Guide". Screen Rant. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  10. ^ Arens, Bryanna (11 August 2023). "Red, White & Royal Blue Cast: Meet the Actors Behind Prime Video's Latest Romance". Den of Geek. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  11. ^ Szalai, Georg (9 November 2022). "Paramount+ Unveils Cast for U.K. Original 'The Doll Factory'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  12. ^ Vrajlal, Alicia (14 August 2024). "'Critical Incident's Akshay Khanna On Playing A Cop, His Indian Roots, And People Pronouncing His Name Wrong". Draw Your Box. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
  13. ^ Ritman, Alex (21 August 2023). "Sophie Skelton, Bella Dayne, Akshay Khanna to Lead Brit Thriller 'Row' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  14. ^ Cordero, Rosy (2024-03-07). "Apple TV+'s 'Murderbot' Rounds Out Cast With Sabrina Wu, Tattiawna Jones, Akshay Khanna & Tamara Podemski". Deadline. Retrieved 2024-03-07.