Arian Nik

Arian Mirzaali (born 4 November 1994), known professionally as Arian Nik, is an English actor and writer. He stars as the titular character of the ITVX horror sitcom Count Abdulla (2023).

Early life

Nik was born in Leeds, and brought up by a single mother until age 6; he and his mother stayed at a Women's Aid Hostel before getting a council flat in Meanwood. Nik attended Roundhay Comprehensive School. He also took classes with the Television Workshop. He was originally going to study Broadcast Journalism at university, but instead convinced his parents to let him go to drama school. Nik graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Acting from Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in 2016, and served on the board of Mountview until 2019.

Career

Nik began his career in theatre, playing Remedial Remedies at Upstairs at The Gatehouse in 2016. That same year, he voiced Ammar Elkady for the Doctor Who audio drama Absolute Power from Big Finish Productions. This was followed by roles in The Ugly One at the Park Theatre and The Last Testament of Lillian Bilocca at Hull Truck Theatre in 2017, The Village at Theatre Royal Stratford East in 2018, and Pufferfish for the 2019 VAULT Festival. He co-developed Cracked for the Arcola Theatre.

Also in 2019, Nik made his television debut with guest appearances in the BBC spy thriller Killing Eve as Jay and the Channel 4 teen drama Ackley Bridge as Yusef Ibrahim. This was followed by his feature film debut in 2020 with small roles in the Disney adaptation of Artemis Fowl and the Irish comedy-drama Dating Amber. He also appeared in an episode of the BBC soap opera Doctors as Hamed Khan.

In 2021, Nik joined the cast of the ITV crime drama The Bay for its second series as Theo Anvari and the CBBC spinoff Still So Awkward as Josh Cooper. He appeared in the 2022 drama film Allelujah and was nominated for an Offie for his performance in the play Kabul Goes Pop. After protesting in person in London, Nik wrote an article for BRICKS Magazine that November to spread awareness about the death of Mahsa Amini and its aftermath.

As of 2023, Nik leads the ITVX comedy horror series Count Abdulla as titular character Abdulla Khan, a Muslim doctor who gets bitten by a vampire (Jaime Winstone). The following year, he had a role as Nish Chowdry in the ensemble of the thriller Passenger, also for ITVX.

Personal life

Nik lives in London with his long-term partner.

Filmography

Stage

Audio

Awards and nominations