Akshay Khanna (British actor)

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).

Akshay Khanna
Alma materUniversity of Bristol
Years active2020–present

Early life

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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

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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

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Key
Denotes films that have not yet been released

Film

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

Television

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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

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

Stage

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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

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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

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  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.
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