COLLIDER: This movie is terrific and youre fantastic in it.
You should be very proud of the work you did on this.
RIZ AHMED: Thanks so much.
Image via Amazon Prime
Thats kind of you.
What was your experience like seeing the finished film for the first time?
AHMED: It was interesting.
Image via Amazon Studios
I saw several rough cuts of it.
He created such a distinctive piece, I think.
Like any film, when youre in it, youre in it.
Image via Amazon Studios
Whats that like when youre in it?
How do you keep from being in your own head and staying in the moment and not overthinking things?
You just have to go from the gut and be in the moment.
Image via Amazon Studios
We were also shooting chronologically, which helps us live through it.
There were a lot of different things to juggle, for sure.
In a way, thats what I seek.
Image via Amazon Studios
At that point, interesting things happen.
In a way, its a gift.
The challenges always end up being gifts.
The challenges can be gifts.
What was it like to shoot the live performance?
Is it terrifying, is it exciting, is it both of those things?
AHMED: Yeah, it was terrifying, and it was very adrenalizing.
I remember it so clearly.
Some days on set, you kind of remember, but I remember that so clearly.
I remember being in the dressing room, getting ready, and getting up on stage.
It was like a gig.
My biggest thing was just feeling like, Man, I wanna keep doing this.
Ive been preparing for this so long, I wanna keep doing it.
But thats not how it works when you play a gig.
Thats not the truth of it.
Thats what live performance is.
Its about riding the adrenaline and embracing the imperfection a little bit.
Would you ever do an album with him?
Was that something you guys ever like talked about or thought about doing after that?
Ive met him a handful of times.
It would be bizarre if an offer to do an album was on the table.
Youd have to ask him.
It was fun doing that.
So, Im just someone whos always rooting for him.
Could you see yourself ever starring in a straight-up musical?
AHMED: Interesting question.
I guessMogul Mowgliis a musical.
I dont know what a straight-up musical would be anymore.
I feel like things are changing so much.
People are watching movies on YouTube.
People are listening to podcasts on Spotify.
Everything is jumbled together now.
Apple is a streaming service that has movies.
It also allows you to step outside of the story and its structure.
Its an interesting way of telling a story.
Im always open to trying things out.
What I havent done yet is a musical where Im singing.
Have you been approached, at all, about being a part of that?
Would you like to return to that whole world?
AHMED: I havent really been in the loop with that, to be honest.
If they do a TV series, Im rooting for them.
I was proud be a part of theStar Warsfamily.
Once youre a part of the family, youre a part of the family.
Im not involved that I know of, but Im rooting for them.
Well, you might get a phone call, if theres a Season 2.
AHMED: Right, right.
Sound of Metalis now available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.
