IN CONVERSATION WITH AKSHAY KHANNA

interview by JANA LETONJA

British actor Akshay Khanna will star opposite Alexander Skarsgård in the anticipated comedic thriller ‘Murderbot’, set to debut globally with two episodes on 16th May on Apple TV+. His previous credits include ‘Critical Incident’, ‘Polite Society’, ‘Red, White & Royal Blue’, and ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’.

Akshay, you’ll be starring in ‘Murderbot’. What can you tell us about your character and how they fit into this highly anticipated series? 

I play Ratthi, an easygoing, scholarly, overly-romantic space-hippie scientist/graffiti artist. Ratthi brings the vibes, he brings the music, he brings the laughs, he brings random facts about fungal root structures, he’s overall a pretty good time. He also makes up one third of the throuple between himself, Arada and Pin-Lee. He’s lighthearted, laid-back and funny, and that makes him a great foil for the more serious members of the group, and to Murderbot specifically. Ratthi’s part of the ensemble, but what sets him apart is his willingness to accept Murderbot for who it is, and his comedic attempts to become its new best friend despite its rather overt dismissal of his overtures.  

The show is based on Martha Wells’ beloved book series, ‘The Murderbot Diaries’. Were you familiar with the books before joining the project? How did you prepare for the role? 

I wasn’t familiar with the books, despite having pretty much exclusively science fiction novels on my shelf. I got the audition before the strike, and binge-read the first five books in about two days, partly because I felt I should, but mostly because they were utterly brilliant. Martha Wells is a fantastic writer, and the universe she has created is profoundly immersive. 

When you’re the sort of person people often ask “Are you okay?” and you have to reply “Yes, that’s just my face”, coming across as fanciful and easygoing is a fair bit of work. I put a lot of effort into those auditions, because I knew what an opportunity it was. I may have had tunnel vision. Food was left at my door. I regret nothing. 

Your performance has been described as a standout, with impeccable comedic timing and a charming demeanor. What was it like balancing humor with the thriller and sci-fi elements of the show? 

You’re actually making me blush. It’s easy to be funny when the writing is funny. And also, when you have a team of people behind the camera and alongside you that you trust to tell you when you’re being a bit eggy or over the top, you don’t feel nearly so self-conscious about throwing a wacky line delivery at the wall to see if it sticks. The show is inherently comedic, and while not an out-and-out comedy, it is quite light-hearted in tone. That gave us the license as a cast to let our comedy chops fly. 

You’re starring alongside Alexander Skarsgård and working with acclaimed creators Chris and Paul Weitz. What was it like collaborating with them on set? 

You feel safe when people like that are on set. Chris and Paul are custodians to the project, but more than that, they are kind and generous to their people. And they are intensely collaborative themselves, letting us improvise and throwing new lines our way between takes. They never stop being creative and being brilliant, and it’s wonderful to work with them. I truly hope I get to do so again. Alex is a consummate professional, a fantastic actor, and a genuinely awesome and very funny guy. A project like this needs someone like that at number one. They set the tone. 

Murderbot itself is a fascinating character—an AI security construct that struggles with human emotions. How does your character interact with Murderbot, and what can audiences expect from their dynamic? 

Ratthi approaches every new human and potentially murderous cyborg with the assumption that they’re already friends. He spends much of the series trying to prove to Murderbot that it’s awesome, he’s awesome, life is awesome, and they should be awesome pals doing awesome things in awesome places. Murderbot has never been treated well by humans before, and really has no idea how to respond to this happy-go-lucky member of the crew. It does end up respecting Ratthi for his relentless kindness and optimism, though this doesn’t come without a heavy initial dose of skepticism and mistrust. 

What do you think sets ‘Murderbot’ apart from other sci-fi shows currently out there? 

Tone. So much of science fiction is inherently quite dour, bleak, and portentous of a dismal future. In the current technological climate, it’s easy to see why. Much of sci-fi tends to try to answer the question “What if, in the endeavor to progress, we go too far?” This is, by its nature, a fascinating examination. It's why ‘Black Mirror’ succeeded. It's why ‘Severance’ is now, and deservedly so. 

However, I do think audiences are in need of optimistic storytelling as well, and shows that encourage people to think but also make them laugh in equal measure are in short supply. ‘Murderbot’ has thoughtful sci-fi, and it has feels, but it also brings the laughs. It truly is a joyous series, and I think it stands out in that regard amongst its contemporaries. 

You’ve had roles in ‘Critical Incident’, ‘Polite Society’, ‘Red, White & Royal Blue’, and ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’. How have your past projects shaped your growth as an actor? 

Every day on set is an opportunity to develop as an artist. ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ taught me how to conduct myself on a big budget production. ‘Polite Society’ taught me how to be comfortable taking risks on camera. ‘Red, White & Royal Blue’ taught me that enjoying the process is important. And ‘Critical Incident’ taught me that being a lead means you have a responsibility not just to yourself, but also to the rest of the cast, to make sure your fellow actors feel comfortable taking risks and asking for what they need. Acting isn’t about being self-serving, and when you try and force it to be, it does a disservice to the project and to the collective experience. It’s always more fun and fulfilling to be a collaborator. 

Working on ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ must have been a massive experience. What was that like for you? 

It was a great show to work on, and I made some lovely Mellons, the elvish word for ‘friends’. Mostly, I was struck by the budget of the thing. I wasn’t in it much, but we shot a scene in an elvish forest that they had actually built indoors in a massive hangar, with fake trees that looked real, and people in the rafters whose job it was to throw leaves to the floor during takes to make it all look more elven and wistful, and all these background artists in full armor, and a crew bigger than I had ever seen before. It was very cool to be a small part of that. And I got to pick out my own elf ears.  

As an actor of South Asian descent making waves in the industry, do you feel a sense of responsibility or pride in representing diverse talent on screen? 

I remember auditioning for ‘Macbeth’ at my secondary school, and turning it down. I told my teacher “Nobody wants to see a brown Macbeth”. She told me in no uncertain terms that I was doing it whether I liked it or not, and that I’d better get my stuff together and stop being such a whining ninny. Her language was a bit more colorful than that, but it was a life-changing moment. I take pride in what I’ve achieved since, and I know how important visibility and encouragement is for young Asian kids who want to make theatre or movies. I’m glad to be even a tiny part of that momentum, because we deserve to be here. 

What’s next for you after ‘Murderbot’? Any upcoming projects you can share? 

I have a very cool role in an upcoming animated series that I would yell about from the rafters if I weren’t worried about violating an NDA. It’s something very dear to me, the sort of job I’d pay to be a part of. More details to come as and when I’m allowed to share.

CREDITS:

photography RHYS FRAMPTON