You might recognize his face from short yet memorable roles, but very few people actually know his name. Actor Inaamulhaq, known for his incredible range and versatility, has consistently delivered powerful performances, even in the limited opportunities the industry has offered him. Best known for films like Filmistaan, and his roles alongside Akshay Kumar in Jolly LLB 2 and Airlift, Inaamulhaq has carved out a distinct identity in Indian cinema. While Filmistaan gave him one of the most substantial roles of his career, he has also shown his depth in a variety of films such as Nandita Das’s Firaaq, Ranjit Tiwari’s Lucknow Central, and across OTT platforms in shows like Hasmukh and Maharani. His performance in Nakkash earned him the Best Actor Award at a film festival in Washington D.C., yet mainstream recognition has largely remained elusive. Despite such acclaim, it's unfortunate that the industry still hasn’t fully acknowledged his talent. In a recent interview with Digital Commentary, Inaamulhaq opened up about how his cameos in Jolly LLB 2 and Airlift went viral on social media, yet few bothered to learn his name. Instead, he was frequently referred to as "Akshay Kumar’s co-actor." “I have a problem with that. When Airlift came out, people didn’t even mention my name. They used to write ‘Akshay Kumar’s co-actor’. But I haven’t come here to build my identity as someone’s co-actor. I want people to write my name. I want my name to be recognized. I came here to earn a name, please take it correctly.” Also Read | Neeraj Ghaywan’s sophomore feature Homebound uses belonging as a smokescreen to reveal how this is no country for the marginalized In the same conversation, Inaamulhaq also revealed how, after the success of Filmistaan, a strange perception began circulating that he was actually a Pakistani actor, something he has repeatedly had to clarify. He emphasized that he was born and raised in India, and proudly identifies as an Indian actor. Inaamulhaq was last seen in the 2023 war drama Pippa.
