ZAIN IQBAL
- 5' ELEVEN''
- 8 hours ago
- 4 min read
London-based star Zain Iqbal returns as the beloved Ravi Singh in the anticipated second season of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder. Based on Good Girl, Bad Blood, the second book of Holly Jackson’s bestselling series, the upcoming episodes promise to keep any viewer on the edge of their seats.
Growing up to the sound of Western films, Zain, much like his father before him, admired the ruthless portrayal of iconic figures, with Marlon Brando’s Vito Corleone as the main source of inspiration. Following the path that Dev Patel, Jack O’Connell and Robert Pattinson took long before him, the rising star is deeply interested in resorting to an untraditional approach to play out his characters. His dream role? A true villain. 5'ELEVEN” Magazine sat down with him to discuss the second season of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder while talking about his portrayal of Ravi Singh, his hobbies and his passion for indie films.
Words by Jessica Marques.
Photographed by Panos Damaskinidis. Styled by Alton Hetariki. Grooming by Brady Lea at A-Frame. Zayn appears courtesy of Pinnacle PR.
Left. Railway coat, sailor top, henley t-shirt and shorts all by Mithridate. Socks by Falke. Trainers by Nike. Right. Half zip technical shirt, monogram boxer shorts, jazz boat shoes and Keepall Bandoulière 25 Bag all by Louis Vuitton. Socks by Falke
How do you feel about returning to the second season of Good Girl’s Guide to Murder? Any nostalgic feelings?
I feel confident. It feels a lot like high school. When you go on summer break or holiday and then you come back and you get to see all the same faces. It’s nostalgic but then you also get to meet a lot of new people that are joining the cast this season, so it’s nice to see new faces too.
What is it like to have Holly Jackson joining the crew?
It’s great because no one knows the characters better than she does, you know? She’s very passionate but she’s not strict, she allows you to have your own interpretation of the character and the story.
Ravi is a huge fan favourite, known for his wit and charm. Can fans expect to see a different side of Ravi in the next episodes?
Yes, you see him get out more in the world, I think. He puts himself a lot more out there. And you also get to see his relationship with Pip evolve, especially now that they are facing a new mystery.
There’s such an overwhelming amount of YA novels being turned into TV-shows. What do you think makes Good Girl’s Guide to Murder stand out?
The world Holly has created is so unique, very different from what’s out there at the moment. You get a lot of comedy scenes, lighthearted moments between the characters like the Ravi and Pip scenes but you also get a lot of mystery and face some gruesome details. The characters have a lot of depth, as well. No one is completely good or bad.
Do you prefer to act in lighthearted or romantic scenes or do you find the action-packed ones to be more compelling?
I honestly like both because they teach you something in their own way. You have to adjust to each other's pace and that’s a challenge on its own.
Floral jacket by Tone Deaf. T-shirt by Tod’s. Jeans by Louis Vuitton
Fans can be so incredibly passionate about characters but so intensely critical of them at the same time. How do you feel about representing a character that is so loved?
I always make sure to read the book because that’s the source material but I combine it with the script and see what I can take from it. When it comes to improvising I love it, I’m all for it but it’s difficult to do so when you have such a precise storyline and so many inputs on a character like Ravi.
What makes you so interested in acting?
It’s a profession that feels different every single day. You are always working with different people, you’re always reading a different script, wearing different clothes, in a different location. It’s never dull.
What keeps you entertained when you’re not working?
I like to act and watch movies, go for a run and hang out with my friends. I’m pretty boring to be honest. But I’m also pretty lucky that my hobby became my job so I get to do what I love the most for a living.
What’s in store for the future? Any upcoming plans?
Nothing planned just yet. Although I would like to do more indie movies. I have already done All Crazy Random and Why me? but I would like to do more of something that I can really dive into and take the time to play out the character. It’s always a complete challenge.
Left. Leather jacket by Onitsuka Tiger. Jeans by Paige Denim. Trainers by Nike. Right. Jumper, shirt and cotton t-shirt by TOD’S
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