Shabana Azmi on Identity and Family in Next of Kin
Shabana Azmi is jumping into Next of Kin . It’s streaming on Lionsgate Play. And this latest role really dives into that messy world of identity , family , and just… belonging . She’s playing Mrs. Shirani, and honestly, she’s given us a lot about what pulled her into the story, the real emotional weight of the character.
She spoke to the News18 Showsha, and what came out felt really personal. She talked about Mona, a character that seems so deeply rooted in relationships, shaped entirely by her upbringing.
“Mona is a very good GP,” she said. “She works well with her patients. That’s a lot to do with the person she is. She’s very sociable, definitely a people person. She is also very supportive of her husband Guy and his work.”
Then you get to the heart of it.
A Character Defined By Family And Identity
Azmi went further, digging into Mona’s cultural identity, the values she carries around. It’s not just surface level stuff.
“She’s a second-generation immigrant,” Azmi explained. “She considers herself very English, but she holds these really traditional values. Mona has lived in West London with her family for most of her life. For her, family is the be-all and the end-all. She feels very protective, loyal and responsible for them.”
That whole worldview, it’s really been hammered out by her family history. Especially her father’s journey.
“It’s a value she inherited from her parents. Especially her father. He had this classic story of them arriving here in the seventies. Him having to work in unskilled jobs because he couldn't get a job he was properly qualified for back home. He pushed his kids to assimilate into British society. To work hard. To make sure you look after the family.”
What really sticks out in Mona’s perspective, according to Azmi, is how she sees family. It’s way bigger than just the nuclear unit or the extended family.
“I don’t think there is a distinction for Mona,” she noted. “For her, they are one big family. And she has to look after them.”
It’s an expansive understanding. It goes beyond the usual lines.
When you watch Next of Kin , Azmi brings this character to life. It’s intimate, sure, but it’s also something that feels universal. It explores how migration, how identity , and those generational values shape everything. How people just connect with the ones closest to them. It’s heavy stuff.
Written by Gree News Team — Senior Editorial Board
Gree News Team covers international news and global affairs at Gree News. Our collective of senior editors is dedicated to providing independent, accurate, and responsible journalism for a global audience.
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