Virdee star Aysha Kala: ‘Seeing South Asian people on TV is so rare’

Aysha Kala is on a mission. As one of the stars of BBC One hit detective thriller Virdee, which came hot on the heels of her scene-stealing performance opposite Cush Jumbo and Peter Capaldi in terrific bent cop drama Criminal Record, she is proving herself one of the finest actors in the country.

When she sat down to answer Big Issue’s Big Questions, Kala also considered why Virdee has made such a big impact, filming in Bradford ahead of its City of Culture celebrations, and the importance of representation.

What film made the biggest impact on you growing up?

I don’t think there was a film or performance that made me want to be an actor. But a film that’s stuck with me forever is East Is East. My whole family could sit down and watch it, and see ourselves on screen. I come from a mixed-race background and it was a real moment for us, to be able to go, ‘Oh, look, there we are’, which is really nice.

What TV show was big for you as a kid?

On Friday night, it would be Buffy, the Vampire Slayer then, straight after, it would be Angel, when that came out. I’d always go to my friend’s house and we’d watch together. We wouldn’t miss an episode. It was our thing. I used to love Jonathan Creek, which, when I look back now, is quite random, and also Birds of a Feather – because I’m from Essex and they filmed it in Chigwell.

How big would a show like Virdee have been in your household as a kid?

Virdee would have been huge in our household. It’s something I spoke to my family about. If I wasn’t in this, would you guys watch it? And they were like, 100%. There’s something about seeing South Asian people on TV, you’re drawn to it. I don’t think it matters what kind of show it is – you just are drawn to it because it’s it is so rare, especially where the majority of the cast are South Asian. We would have all sat down to watch it – albeit at an appropriate age.

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What song, album or artist was the biggest for you growing up?

It’s got to be Craig David, Born to Do It! My brother bought the album and he would have it on repeat over and over and over again. But no one was annoyed, my whole family was happy for it to be on all the time. When I hear it now, it’s so nostalgic. And every song on there is still a banger.

What is your big issue at the moment?

This feels like a cop out, but there’s so much going on in the world that I can’t just pick a single big issue.

What’s the biggest thing you wish you could tell your younger self?

Be more rebellious. I was a real goody two shoes but when you’re a teenager, you can afford to be a bit rebellious. If I had a little bit of rebellion back then, it might have stuck with me more.

What’s your big idea to save the world?

Without sounding too Miss World about it, I just think people should be kinder to each other. Look up and smile at someone, just for starters. We’re always teaching kids kindness – but I think that we’ve lost touch with that and the sense of community that comes with it. And without community, we’re lost.

Who has been the biggest influence on your career?

Every job I do, I take a something from someone. I’m in awe of the people I work with. In this job, like in life, you’re always learning. So from Virdee, working with Staz [Nair], he has the most insane work ethic. They threw everything at him – stunts, fluids, he was passing out, being sick, everything. And he still had a smile on his face, he still knew everyone’s name. If you steal from everyone, you come away with a bag of goodies. What did I take from Criminal Record? Working with Cush [Jumbo] and Peter [Capaldi], they’re incredible leaders. Both brilliant at having the professionalism to get stuff done and make sure everything on set and in the story is where it needs to be, but also making people feel welcome and included. Big names can be intimidating. But they were so inclusive. On Criminal Record you can tell people are enjoying doing their job – and that comes from the top.

Was Criminal Record a big series for your career?

She was so much fun to play. She has an energy – a lot of the time on screen, you’re trying to do less, do less, do less. But with her, I can push things a bit – she just says everything she wants to say. And that’s so fun. We’re filming the second season now.

Was there a big political issue for you growing up or a political awakening?

Over the course of my career I’ve done a lot of jobs that stem back to Partition and the British in India. But growing up, I wasn’t aware of that at all. It wasn’t taught to us. And it wasn’t spoken about at home. Through my job, I’ve learned so much about it, and how it links now to what’s going on in India. I did an amazing play at the National Theatre called The Father and the Assassin and it amazes me how the impact of Partition is still felt today, worldwide. It’s mind-blowing.

What is your big ambition?

Honestly, just to keep working. I’m very lucky to work and make a living doing something I love. It’s an incredible privilege, so if I can do that and make each role or job more challenging than the last, that will be incredible. And I’d like to branch out and do some more directing. But getting to work feels like success to me. I know that feels small, but there are so many people who would love to work and can’t.

Why is Virdee airing on BBC One in primetime so important?

It’s a BBC crime drama that just happens to have loads of brown people in it, and I think that’s a really good thing. It takes us out of how South Asian people are usually represented. We touch on a lot of cultural stuff in the show, but also we’re in this entertainment genre and that is really exciting. Because for a long time, you could only play stuff linked to your culture. We’re also showcasing so many amazing South Asian talents. There’s no excuse anymore of ‘we couldn’t find anybody good enough’, because they’re all there. And setting it in Bradford, at this time around City of Culture, is really exciting.

Virdee airs on Monday nights at 9pm on BBC One and is on iPlayer.

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