Arian Nik

Arian Mirzaali (born 4 November 1994), known professionally as Arian Nik, is an English actor and writer. He stars as the titular character of the ITVX horror sitcom Count Abdulla.

Early life Nik was born in Leeds, and brought up by a single mother until age 6; he and his mother stayed at a Women's Aid Hostel before getting a council flat in Meanwood. Nik attended Roundhay Comprehensive School. He also took classes with the Television Workshop. He was originally going to study Broadcast Journalism at university, but instead convinced his parents to let him go to drama school. Nik graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Acting from Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in 2016, and served on the board of Mountview until 2019.

Career Nik began his career in theatre, playing Remedial Remedies at Upstairs at The Gatehouse in 2016. That same year, he voiced Ammar Elkady for the Doctor Who audio drama Absolute Power from Big Finish Productions. This was followed by roles in The Ugly One at the Park Theatre and The Last Testament of Lillian Bilocca at Hull Truck Theatre in 2017, The Village at Theatre Royal Stratford East in 2018, and Pufferfish for the 2019 VAULT Festival. He co-developed Cracked for the Arcola Theatre.

Also in 2019, Nik made his television debut with guest appearances in the BBC spy thriller Killing Eve as Jay and the Channel 4 teen drama Ackley Bridge as Yusef Ibrahim. This was followed by his feature film debut in 2020 with small roles in the Disney adaptation of Artemis Fowl and the Irish comedy-drama Dating Amber. He also appeared in an episode of the BBC soap opera Doctors as Hamed Khan.

In 2021, Nik joined the cast of the ITV crime drama The Bay for its second series as Theo Anvari and the CBBC spinoff Still So Awkward as Josh Cooper. He appeared in the 2022 drama film Allelujah and was nominated for the 2022 Offie for Lead Performance in a Play - Kabul Goes Pop. After protesting in person in London, Nik wrote an article for BRICKS Magazine that November to spread awareness about the death of Mahsa Amini and its aftermath.

As of 2023, Nik leads the ITVX comedy horror series Count Abdulla as titular character Abdulla Khan, a Muslim doctor who gets bitten by a vampire (Jaime Winstone). The following year, he had a role as Nish Chowdry in the ensemble of the thriller Passenger, also for ITVX.

Personal life Nik lives in London with his long-term partner.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 2013 No Regrets Tom Short film 2020 Artemis Fowl Kanker Disney+ film Dating Amber Adam 2022 The Bower Jude Short film Allelujah Abdul Kashani 2024 The Beekeeper Tommy Netflix film 2025 Giant Riath Hamed

Television

Stage Year Title Role Notes 2016 Remedial Remedies Jack Upstairs at The Gatehouse, London 2017 The Ugly One Karlmann Park Theatre, London The Last Testament of Lillian Bilocca Terry Smallbone Hull Truck Theatre, Kingston upon Hull 2018 The Village Mekhal Theatre Royal Stratford East Cracked Arcola Theatre, LondonCo-developed 2019 Pufferfish Chris Stadsschouwburg, Amsterdam / VAULT Festival 2022 Kabul Goes Pop: Music Television Afghanistan Farook Brixton House, London / England tour Sokhan Begoo Various Royal Court Theatre, London 2023 Blue Mist Rashid 2025 Speed Sameer Bush Theatre, London

Audio Year Title Role Notes 2016 Doctor Who: Absolute Power Ammar Elkady Big Finish Productions

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Work Result Ref. 2021 Apolo Awards Best Ensemble Cast Dating Amber 2022 Offie Lead Performance in a Play Kabul Goes Pop