# Akshay Khanna (British actor)
**Akshay Khanna** is a British Indian actor known for playing Salim in the 2023 film *Polite Society*, Shaan Srivastava in *Red, White & Royal Blue* (2023), and Ratthi in the Apple TV+ science fiction series *Murderbot* (2025). He is not the same person as the Bollywood actor [Akshaye Khanna](https://www.edgepedia.org/akshaye-khanna), a name confusion that follows both performers.[1](https://anthearepresents.com/artist/Akshay-Khanna) • [2](https://drawyourbox.com/posts/critical-incident-akshay-khanna-interview/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Training | Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, FdA Professional Acting, two years, 2018–2020[3](https://www.independenttalent.com/actors/akshay-khanna/) |
| Breakthrough role | Anish in the BBC One murder mystery series *Chloe* (2022), a six-part series shown worldwide on Amazon Prime[1](https://anthearepresents.com/artist/Akshay-Khanna) |
| Feature film debut | Salim in *Polite Society* (2023), directed by Nida Manzoor for Working Title Films and Searchlight Pictures[1](https://anthearepresents.com/artist/Akshay-Khanna) • [3](https://www.independenttalent.com/actors/akshay-khanna/) |
| Leading television role | Senior Constable Zilficar "Zil" Ahmed in the Australian crime drama *Critical Incident* (2024), for which he moved to Sydney for five months and adopted an Australian accent[3](https://www.independenttalent.com/actors/akshay-khanna/) • [4](https://www.grazia.co.in/people/next-big-thing-in-conversation-with-british-actor-akshay-khanna-14053.html) |
| *Murderbot* | Ratthi, a wormhole expert and one of the leads, in the Apple TV+ series starring Alexander Skarsgård, which debuted on May 16, 2025[1](https://anthearepresents.com/artist/Akshay-Khanna) • [5](https://www.numeronetherlands.com/in-conversation-with/in-conversation-with-akshay-khanna) |
| Voice work | Video games, audio dramas, and audiobooks, including a voice role in *Unknown 9: Awakening* (2024) and Doctor Who audio dramas for Big Finish[6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm12302587/) |
## Training and early work
Khanna completed a two-year Foundation degree in Professional Acting at [Bristol Old Vic Theatre School](https://www.edgepedia.org/bristol-old-vic-theatre-school) between 2018 and 2020.[3](https://www.independenttalent.com/actors/akshay-khanna/) His first screen credits came in 2021 with guest appearances in the ITV drama series *Grace* and *Grantchester*.[1](https://anthearepresents.com/artist/Akshay-Khanna) During this period he also began working with Big Finish Productions on [Doctor Who](https://www.edgepedia.org/doctor-who) audio dramas, and appeared on stage as James and Simon in *The Wolves of Willoughby Chase* at Greenwich Theatre in 2020.[3](https://www.independenttalent.com/actors/akshay-khanna/)
His breakthrough came in 2022 as Anish in *Chloe*, a [BBC One](https://www.edgepedia.org/bbc-one) murder mystery starring [Erin Doherty](https://www.edgepedia.org/erin-doherty) that The Guardian described as "an absolute feast of a show". The six-part series was shown worldwide on [Amazon Prime](https://www.edgepedia.org/amazon-prime) and was nominated in the Limited-Series category at the 2023 Royal Television Society Awards.[1](https://anthearepresents.com/artist/Akshay-Khanna) That year he also appeared on stage as the Aide in *The Narcissist* at Chichester Festival Theatre.[3](https://www.independenttalent.com/actors/akshay-khanna/)
## Film work
**2023 debut year.** Khanna made his feature film debut playing Salim in *Polite Society*, a martial arts comedy written and directed by Nida Manzoor, best known for the [Channel 4](https://www.edgepedia.org/channel-4) sitcom *We Are Lady Parts*. The film premiered at the [Sundance Film Festival](https://www.edgepedia.org/sundance-film-festival), and Manzoor won the Best Debut Screenwriter category at the 2023 British Independent Film Awards for it. [Barack Obama](https://www.edgepedia.org/barack-obama) named it one of his favorite movies of that year.[1](https://anthearepresents.com/artist/Akshay-Khanna) On Rotten Tomatoes the film holds a 91 percent critics score, the highest rating of Khanna's listed filmography.[7](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/akshay_khanna)
Later the same year he played Shaan Srivastava, Prince Henry's equerry and trusted confidant, in the Emmy-nominated Amazon Prime romantic comedy *Red, White & Royal Blue*, about a love affair between the son of the [President of the United States](https://www.edgepedia.org/president-of-the-united-states) and a [British prince](https://www.edgepedia.org/british-prince). The cast also included [Uma Thurman](https://www.edgepedia.org/uma-thurman), Stephen Fry as the King of England, and Jemma Redgrave. For the first three weeks after its release the film was the most watched film worldwide on Amazon Prime.[1](https://anthearepresents.com/artist/Akshay-Khanna)
**Later films.** In *Touch* (2024), an Icelandic romantic period drama directed by Baltasar Kormákur for Focus Features, he played Phillip; the film is set across two eras, 1970s London and pandemic-era London in 2020. He played Daniel in *Row* (2025), an independent British horror thriller directed by Matthew Losasso.[1](https://anthearepresents.com/artist/Akshay-Khanna) • [3](https://www.independenttalent.com/actors/akshay-khanna/) *Row* carries a 58 percent critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, the lowest of his listed films.[7](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/akshay_khanna)
## Television
In 2023 Khanna was a series regular in *The Doll Factory*, a [Paramount+](https://www.edgepedia.org/paramount) gothic period drama, portraying the pre-Raphaelite artist [Dante Gabriel Rossetti](https://www.edgepedia.org/dante-gabriel-rossetti).[1](https://anthearepresents.com/artist/Akshay-Khanna)
His first leading television role came in the Australian crime drama *Critical Incident* (2024), produced by Matchbox Pictures, in which he played Senior Constable Zilficar "Zil" Ahmed, a cop who critically injures an innocent bystander during a pursuit of a teenage suspect. Khanna moved to Sydney for five months for the part and performed it in an Australian accent, work that drew press praise; the show was nominated for Best Miniseries at the Logie Awards and premiered in the UK on ITVX in early 2025.[1](https://anthearepresents.com/artist/Akshay-Khanna) • [2](https://drawyourbox.com/posts/critical-incident-akshay-khanna-interview/) In a 2025 interview he called it the role with the most lasting impact on his career, noting the responsibility of leading the cast and the chance to exercise his dramatic range.[4](https://www.grazia.co.in/people/next-big-thing-in-conversation-with-british-actor-akshay-khanna-14053.html)
In 2025 he appeared as Selko in "Welcome to the Rebellion", an episode of the [Star Wars](https://www.edgepedia.org/star-wars) series *Andor* that later won an Emmy Award for its writer.[1](https://anthearepresents.com/artist/Akshay-Khanna) His other television credits include a 2024 appearance as Commander of the West in *The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power*.[6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm12302587/)
**Murderbot.** In 2025 Khanna played Ratthi, a wormhole expert and one of the leads of *Murderbot*, Apple TV+'s action comedy science fiction series adapted from Martha Wells' novellas, with Alexander Skarsgård as the titular security cyborg. Khanna, a self-described science fiction fan, prepared for the audition by reading all the books and studying fan discussion of the tone and universe.[1](https://anthearepresents.com/artist/Akshay-Khanna) • [4](https://www.grazia.co.in/people/next-big-thing-in-conversation-with-british-actor-akshay-khanna-14053.html) The series was commissioned for a second season, and Khanna said in a press interview that he would return "in a heartbeat".[1](https://anthearepresents.com/artist/Akshay-Khanna) • [8](https://www.cinemablend.com/interviews/after-murderbot-early-season-2-renewal-apple-i-love-what-stars-told-us)
## Upcoming projects
Khanna is announced as a leading cast member in *Number 10*, a political comedy drama series for Channel 4 created by Steven Moffat, the writer of *Sherlock*, which also stars Rafe Spall and Jenna Coleman.[1](https://anthearepresents.com/artist/Akshay-Khanna) He will star in the sequel *Red, White and Royal Wedding*, which begins filming in 2026, and voices the character Karthik in the animated series *Avatar: Seven Havens*, scheduled for 2026.[1](https://anthearepresents.com/artist/Akshay-Khanna) • [6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm12302587/)
## Voice work and accents
Khanna works across video games, audio dramas, and audiobooks. His screen and game credits include a voice role in *Unknown 9: Awakening* (2024) and Doctor Who audio dramas for Big Finish Productions, and he is represented for voiceover by Anthea Represents in London.[6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm12302587/) • [1](https://anthearepresents.com/artist/Akshay-Khanna) He is from London and speaks with a neutral accent, with a repertoire that includes Indian, General American, Australian, and Scottish accents, plus Cockney, Multicultural London English, Northern, Dublin, and others.[1](https://anthearepresents.com/artist/Akshay-Khanna)
## Name confusion with Akshaye Khanna
The British actor shares a name, differing by one letter, with the Indian film actor **Akshaye Khanna** (born 1975 in Bombay), whose films include *Dil Chahta Hai* (2001), *Drishyam 2* (2022), and *Dhurandhar* (2025).[9](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/akshaye-khanna/) Coverage of the British actor explicitly flags the distinction, describing him as "not to be mistaken with the Bollywood star of the same name".[2](https://drawyourbox.com/posts/critical-incident-akshay-khanna-interview/)
## References
1. [Akshay Khanna, Anthea Represents (voiceover agency profile and biography)](https://anthearepresents.com/artist/Akshay-Khanna)
2. ["'Critical Incident's Akshay Khanna On Playing A Cop, His Indian Roots, And People Pronouncing His Name Wrong", Draw Your Box, August 14, 2024](https://drawyourbox.com/posts/critical-incident-akshay-khanna-interview/)
3. [Akshay Khanna, Independent Talent (agent CV)](https://www.independenttalent.com/actors/akshay-khanna/)
4. ["Next Big Thing: In Conversation With British Actor Akshay Khanna", Grazia India, April 25, 2025](https://www.grazia.co.in/people/next-big-thing-in-conversation-with-british-actor-akshay-khanna-14053.html)
5. ["In Conversation With Akshay Khanna", Numéro Netherlands](https://www.numeronetherlands.com/in-conversation-with/in-conversation-with-akshay-khanna)
6. [Akshay Khanna, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm12302587/)
7. [Akshay Khanna Movies & TV Shows List, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/akshay_khanna)
8. ["After Murderbot's Early Season 2 Renewal From Apple TV+...", CinemaBlend](https://www.cinemablend.com/interviews/after-murderbot-early-season-2-renewal-apple-i-love-what-stars-told-us)
9. [Akshaye Khanna, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/akshaye-khanna/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › English actors: 2000s onward › Surnames I to K*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license