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Riz AhmedandFatima Farheen Mirza’s relationship is one for the books.
The actor and rapper met his novelist wife in a cafe in 2018, just before his career skyrocketed. The pair became friends but eventually began dating. In 2020, Ahmed and Mirza quietly got married.
The couple are very private and rarely share details about their relationship publicly. In fact, news of their wedding only came out because Ahmed let it slip in a January 2021 interview.
“I guess I don’t really feel it’s generally that relevant, soI don’t delve into my personal lifeor my dating history or even family life much,” he said during an episode of theGrounded with Louis Therouxpodcast.
From their red carpet moments to their supportive social media posts, here’s everything to know about Riz Ahmed and Fatima Farheen Mirza’s relationship.
2018: Riz Ahmed and Fatima Farheen Mirza meet in a New York City cafe
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Ahmed and Mirza had a real-life meet-cute: They met “randomly” at a cafe in New York City in 2018.
During a January 2021 appearance onThe Tonight Show, Ahmed shared details about the moment he met his now-wife. “We just both sat down at the same table in a cafe, where we both turned up to write,” he said. “We were both jostling over the same laptop plug points, like avery modern way of meeting.”
At the time, Ahmed was preparing for his role inSound of Metal, the film that would earn him his first Oscar nomination.
“It’s weirdly one of the many things about preparing for this role that was so special. It just brought a lot of goodness into my life,” Ahmed said of the role.
He added that the pair “struck up a friendship” and later “reconnected down the line.”
Early2020: Riz Ahmed proposes to Fatima Farheen Mirza
Ahmedasked Mirza to marry himamidst the COVID-19 lockdown period, although exactly when he popped the question is not known.
The actor shared the details of his “corny” proposal during an April 2021 episode ofJimmy Kimmel Live. The couple went to their local park and had a picnic before Ahmed made his move.
“She loves a bit of Scrabble,” Ahmed explained to hostJimmy Kimmel. “So we were actually playing Scrabble and I did that corny thing where I stole all the correct letters up and spelled out ‘Will you marry me?’ "
Late2020: Riz Ahmed and Fatima Farheen Mirza get married
Sometime in late 2020, Ahmed and Mirza wed in a “super intimate” backyard ceremony in California’s San Francisco Bay Area, where Mirza grew up and where her family still lives.
Because of the ongoing pandemic, there was “hardly anyone there,” Ahmed said during his appearance onThe Tonight Show, which allowed the couple to keep the news under wraps.
January 11, 2021: Riz Ahmed announces marriage to Fatima Farheen Mirza
Eamonn M. McCormack/Getty
In an episode ofGrounded withLouis Theroux, released on Jan. 11, 2021, Ahmed let it slip that he was amarried man. When asked about where he spent lockdown, Ahmed mentioned he stayed in California because that’s where his “wife’s family” lived.
“I think this is the first time I’ve ever mentioned it in an interview, so congratulations on this incredibly exciting scoop,” Ahmed joked, adding that he had tied the knot “not very long” ago.
January 19, 2021: Riz Ahmed opens up about married life with Fatima Farheen Mirza
In a profile forThe Hollywood Reporter, Ahmed opened up about marrying Mirza during the COVID-19 lockdown. “It feels good to be married,” he said, adding that quarantine was a clarifying experience for the couple.
“I think COVID has been a massive accelerator for people. It’s been something that just clarifies things for you, clarifies what you’re doing, why you’re doing it, what you really want. It seems to have sent us hurtling into our own futures, collectively and individually,” he explained. “Getting married was something that felt right and made sense.”
April 22, 2021: Riz Ahmed dedicates his Independent Spirit Award to Fatima Farheen Mirza
In April 2021, Ahmed won a FilmIndependent Spirit Awardfor best male lead for his performance inSound of Metal.In his acceptance speech, he gave a sweetshout-outto Mirza, saying, “This is all for you.”
April 25, 2021: Riz Ahmed and Fatima Farheen Mirza make their red carpet debut at the Oscars
Matt Petit/A.M.P.A.S. via Getty
Months after announcing their marriage, Ahmed and Mirza made their officialred carpet debutat the 93rd AnnualAcademy Awards, where Ahmed was up for Best Actor. The couple shared an adorable moment while posing for photos on the carpet, in which Ahmed paused to fix Mirza’s hair. “I’m the official groomer,” he joked.
October 8, 2021: Riz Ahmed and Fatima Farheen Mirza step out for the London premiere ofEncounter
Ahmed and Mirza hit another red carpet together for the U.K. premiere of Ahmed’s sci-fi thriller,Encounter, at the 2021 BFI London Film Festival. The event marked the first time the couple had been seen together in Ahmed’s hometown.
December 5, 2021: Riz Ahmed and Fatima Farheen Mirza attend the British Independent Film Awards
David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty
A few months later, the pair stunned on the red carpet at the 2021British Independent Film Awards. Mirza was in the audience as Ahmed was honored with theRichard Harris Award, which is given to an actor who has made significant contributions to British film.
March 13, 2022: Riz Ahmed and Fatima Farheen Mirza attend the BAFTA Awards
Ahmed and Mirza attended the BAFTAs again in 2022, where they dined at the afterparty dinner held at The Grosvenor House Hotel and attendedBritish Vogue’s Fashion and Film Party alongside other British celebrities, includingNaomi Campbell,Emma WatsonandFlorence Pugh.
March 21, 2022: Fatima Farheen Mirza shares what love means to her
Fashion house Valentino tapped Mirza for theirNarratives campaign, for which they asked 17 writers and poets to share what the word “love” meant to them.
Ahmed later shared Mirza’s writing for the campaign onInstagram.
March 29, 2022: Riz Ahmed and Fatima Farheen Mirza attend the Oscars
“Thank you to my family and to my wife @ffmirza for being my torch in the darkness,” he wrote.
April 1, 2022: Fatima Farheen Mirza celebrates Riz Ahmed’s Oscar win
September 4, 2022: Riz Ahmed and Fatima Farheen Mirza attend a literary event in London
In September 2022, Ahmed accompanied his author wife to a literary event celebratingEdward Enninful’s new memoir,A Visible Man, at Claridge’s Hotel in London. Mirza donned a long, orange dress for the occasion while Ahmed sported a two-piece set.
June 20, 2023: Riz Ahmed and Fatima Farheen Mirza attend Paris Fashion Week
Pierre Mouton/Getty
Ahmed and Mirza sat front row at the Louis Vuitton menswear Spring/Summer 2024 runway show during Paris Fashion Week. The British actor wore a maroon sweater and matching slacks, while his wife donned a black dress.
March 10, 2024: Riz Ahmed and Fatima Farheen Mirza attend the Vanity Fair Oscars Party
Fatima Farheen Mirza and Riz Ahmed attends the 2024 Vanity Fair Oscar Party on March 10, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California.Jon Kopaloff/Getty
Jon Kopaloff/Getty
The couple walked the red carpet atVanity Fair’s Oscars afterparty in Los Angeles. Ahmed and Mirza coordinated in brown and black suits for the star-studded event.
source: people.com
