Iman Vellani

Iman Vellani (born August 12, 2002) is a Canadian actress and comics writer. She starred as Kamala Khan / Ms. Marvel in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Vellani has also appeared as Khan in other Disney productions and has co-written two Ms. Marvel limited series.

Early life Of Pakistani background, Vellani was born on 12 August 2002 in Karachi to a Sindhi family. She moved to Canada when she was a year old, and was raised as an Ismaili Muslim. She graduated from Unionville High School in Markham, Ontario. Vellani was selected as a member of the TIFF Next Wave Committee at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival. Before being cast in Ms. Marvel at the end of her last year of high school, Vellani had planned to attend the Ontario College of Art & Design University with a focus on integrated media.

Career Acting In September 2020, it was revealed Vellani was cast in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) as the Marvel Comics superhero Kamala Khan / Ms. Marvel for the titular Marvel Studios and Disney+'s streaming television miniseries. Vellani's aunt had forwarded her a casting call for the role; she submitted a self-tape before being asked to audition in Los Angeles; Kamala Khan co-creator Sana Amanat—who served as an executive producer on the series—said Vellani revealed in her Zoom screen test that she, like Khan, is an Avengers fangirl. Amanat said, "She showed me every corner of her room, and it was covered with Avengers. Then she said, 'Oh, wait; I'm not done', opened up her closet, and there was more Marvel everywhere".

On June 8, 2022, Ms. Marvel premiered on Disney+, marking Vellani's onscreen debut. Both the series and her portrayal of the title character received widespread praise. Kathryn Porter of Paste wrote that Vellani "shines" in the role and that there was "no way to explain how great she is in this other than to say that she embodies the true spirit of Kamala Khan". Mohammad Zaheer of BBC Culture called her "an adorable bundle of charisma" in a role "tailor-made for her", while Angie Han of The Hollywood Reporter said that Vellani's full of "youthful verve and irresistible moxie" in her role. The miniseries concluded on July 13, 2022, consisting of six episodes. For her performance in the program, Vellani won a Saturn Award and received nominations for an Astra TV Award and a Critics Choice Super Award. From July 2022, Vellani appeared in Disney Wishs CGI—immersive interactive experience, Avengers: Quantum Encounter, reprising her role as Khan.

Vellani reprised her role as Kamala Khan in the MCU film The Marvels (2023) on November 10, 2023. The film serves as both a sequel to the film Captain Marvel (2019) and a continuation of Ms. Marvel. The film received polarizing reviews from critics; however, Vellani's performance was regarded as the standout amongst the cast. Amelia Emberwing of IGN declared that she "predictably steals the show", Helen O'Hara of Empire praised her humor and emotional depth with the "two older heroes." whilst Christian Holub of Entertainment Weekly noted Vellani as a "shining star" despite his lukewarm review of the film.

In September 2025, Vellani voiced an animated version of Kamala Khan for Disney+'s Marvel Zombies, which is the series adaptation of the fifth episode of the animated series, What If...?. By April 2025, Vellani had been cast in Mouse. In May 2026, Vellani was cast in Suffering is Optional, her first leading role in a feature film.

Writing In August 2023, Vellani made her comic writing debut with the four-issue limited series Ms. Marvel: The New Mutant, co-written by Sabir Pirzada, who wrote the limited series Dark Web: Ms. Marvel and an episode of the Ms. Marvel show. It features Ms. Marvel exploring her newfound dual heritage as an Inhuman and a mutant and becoming a member of the X-Men. Lia Williamson of AIPT praised Vellani's handling of the character's new status quo as "[her] knowledge and love for the character allow her to make lemonade out of the lemons she's been given"; the writer opined that Vellani's "robust love and passion" for Kamala Khan "shines throughout her writing". Alex Schlesinger, also for AIPT, praised the final issue of Mutant Menace, commenting that "Vellani is a Marvel superfan, so she knows how important Kamala's identity and power set are to her readers, and [she] and Pirzada do a wonderful job of introducing Ms. Marvel's MCU ability while keeping her polymorph powers."

Vellani wrote several more Ms. Marvel issues with Pirzada, including Ms. Marvel Annual #1 (July 2024), which is part of the connected Infinity Watch storyline, and a short story which is part of the anthology one-shot Marvel 85th Anniversary Special (August 2024) commemorating Marvel Comics' 85th anniversary.

In May 2026, it was announced that Vellani had written her first solo comic book titled Chachu, with illustrator Marianna Ignazzi and colourist Jordie Bellaire. The five-issue limited series, published by Image Comics and Tiny Onion, started on August 5, 2026. The series, set in 1979, focuses on a young Pakistani-Canadian woman as she travels to "reconnect with her estranged uncle" in California.

Filmography +Key Denotes productions that have not yet been released Film Year Title Role Notes 2023 The Marvels Kamala Khan / Ms. Marvel 2026 Mouse Kat Ms. Marvel Kamala Khan / Ms. Marvel Miniseries; 6 episodes Marvel Studios: Assembled Herself Docu-series; special: "The Making of Ms. Marvel" 2025 Marvel Zombies Kamala Khan / Ms. Marvel Voice; 4 episodes 2026 Countdown to Avengers: Doomsday Official Podcast Herself Podcast; Co-host, 5 episodes

Theater Year Title Role Notes 2026 Spectacular

Theme park attractions + Year Title Role Venue 2022 Avengers: Quantum Encounter Kamala Khan / Ms. Marvel Disney Wish Ms. Marvel: Mutant Menace #1–4 (with co-writer Sabir Pirzada and illustrator Scott Godlewski, 2024) Marvel 85th Anniversary Special (with co-writer Sabir Pirzada and illustrator Kaare Andrews, anthology, August 2024) Chachu (with illustrator Marianna Ignazzi and colorist Jordie Bellaire, August 2026) 2023 Critics' Choice Super Awards Best Actress in a Superhero Series 2023 Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Best Youth PerformanceThe Marvels 2023 Las Vegas Film Critics Society Best Youth in Film (Female) 2023 Indiana Film Journalists Association Awards Breakout of the Year 2024 Astra TV Awards Best Actress in a Streaming Limited or Anthology Series or Movie Ms. Marvel 2024 Critics' Choice Super Awards Best Actress in a Superhero Movie The Marvels