Saalika Khan on Telling Queer Muslim Stories
Saalika Khan
In this profile series, Revry is highlighting authentic contributors to the LGBTQ media and entertainment community. We ask questions to find out who they are and where they are going in the future. The questions remain the same but the answers tell their unique story. It’s time to explore and celebrate true representation beyond the limits of Hollywood.
Saalika Khan is a Pakistani-born, Maryland raised Muslim American. '“I have always pursued the arts since I was a child. From orchestra and theatre to fine art classes at school, I kept myself busy creating and performing.”
“When I entered community college, I was keeping myself rounded in film, music, theatre, and art classes. I was really spending time on figuring out what I was good at. Eventually, I transferred to Towson University for acting and music, and joined a media production society called Lambda Kappa Tau. Not only did that society give me a chance to act in many of their films, they also gave me a chance to try directing,” says Saalika. “I then changed my major from acting to photography. I still acted on the side in the film majors' projects and played cello and violin in a band called Smoke n' Mangos. While in Undergrad, I was directing and shooting experimental films about mental health and gender identity, combining on what I learned through my photography and film classes.”
What are you best known for?
I am best known for acting and playing the cello, but lately I have taken on directing. I am recognized for my role as Mary in the short film WHEN A WAVE COMES written, directed, and shot by Bethany Michalski. It is a story that follows Mary, a grieving mother who is looking for solace and resolve to the death of her baby, as she escapes to a small beach town to be alone. She is soon joined by her husband who seems to have moved on from the death prematurely and the two try to work on their marriage. Mary also connects with a young pregnant woman in the hotel room next to hers out of curiosity, fascination, and envy. During principal photography, I was digging deep to bring emotional depth to Mary. It was also physically demanding to show Mary's grief - I plunged myself into the cold Atlantic Ocean, fighting against the waves, crying out for my daughter that I felt was stolen from me, hoping that the ocean would swallow me whole. I look back on that project with so much love. It helped me become a better actor. I carry that experience with me to this day.
What is the first thing you worked on?
The first thing I acted in was FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, my freshman year of high school. I was the actual Fiddler. I was originally working as backstage crew, building the sets, putting props in place, changing the sets during the play. A few days before the first show, the director pointed out that she never cast someone as the Fiddler. I don't know who, but someone said out loud that I play the violin and want to act. Next thing I knew, I was having a beard put on my face, climbing to the top of a stage house, and miming the violin part with my own violin. My first stage debut! I had no lines but I had cues and had to sell that it was really me playing the beautifully played violin solo coming from the pit orchestra. I had to juggle working backstage crew and playing the role of the Fiddler for all three nights. Much like my work today, I work behind the camera as much as I act in front of it. Friends ask me which do I like more, but I am happy with both. I am overall a collaborator. I love working alongside other people, gaining their insights and perspectives. That often makes the project more fulfilling.
What are you working on that no one knows about yet?
A project that I am working on that no one knows about yet is a script I am writing (and planning on directing) about coming out to my Muslim mother/best friend. I came out to my mom in 2010 as bisexual and was happily supported and accepted. I rarely hear positive and happy stories about Muslims, let alone Queer Muslims, and when there are stories about us, its often trauma-related and there is a negative story. I aim to tell stories of Muslims living in their joy. Muslims in the media are often synonymous with negative and politicized narratives that place us as villains or aliens. I also want to share Queer stories that come from a place of love and support. These are my goals as an artist. With this new path of directing, I hope to direct a story that audiences can open their minds and hearts to and want to hear more about. I always wanted to make a statement, especially in Hollywood, so hopefully this script can do just that and succeed. I currently work and live in Los Angeles, CA with my cat, Peach.