Despite starring in the world’s most famous movie franchise, British actress Afshan Azad lives a life of relative normalcy today.
Afshan, now 37, shot to fame after she was cast as teenage witch Padma Patil in the Harry Potter film adaptations based on controversial author JK Rowling’s bestselling books.
However, the role remains Afshan’s only acting credit as the Manchester native retreated from the spotlight after the final instalment of the series was released in 2011.
When she returned to screens briefly for a presenter role in 2017, Afshan told her fans she had spent the years after Harry Potter ‘travelling, eating a lot of food, and generally loving life back at home’.
And, it appeared, healing from the personal tragedy that was unfolding in parallel to her professional success.
Nearly 15 years ago, Afshan was forced to flee her home in Longsight, Manchester, after her older brother, Ashraf Azad, brutally assaulted and threatened to kill her for having a Hindu boyfriend.
Afshan, who has since found love with her husband Nabil Kazi, reportedly climbed out of her bedroom window at the family home and sought refuge with friends in London after the ‘nasty and prolonged’ attack that lasted three hours.
Ashraf, who was arrested and pleaded guilty to assault, flew into a rage after discovering Afshan – whose family are ‘devout Muslims’ – was romantically involved with a Hindu man at the time.
Afshan, now 37, shot to fame after she was cast as teenage witch Padma Patil in the Harry Potter film adaptations based on controversial author JK Rowling ‘s bestselling books. Pictured: Afshan alongside Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
However, the role remains Afshan’s only acting credit as the Manchester native retreated from the spotlight after the final instalment of the series was released in 2011
Nearly 15 years ago, Afshan was forced to flee her home in Longsight, Manchester, after her older brother, Ashraf Azad (pictured), brutally assaulted and threatened to kill her for having her Hindu boyfriend
During his trial in December 2010, Manchester Crown Court heard how Ashraf battered his younger sister, leaving her bruised and swollen, and branded her a ‘slag’ after finding out about her secret affair.
At the time, prosecuting lawyer Richard Vardon QC told the court how Afshan was ‘the victim of an unpleasant assault by her brother’ who disapproved of her relationship.
Things came to a head on the night of May 21, 2010, when Ashraf overheard Afshan talking to her boyfriend on the phone and lost his temper.
‘I can hear you from here,’ he reportedly shouted, before adding: ‘Who the f*** do you think you are talking to? Watch what I will do.’
The court was told how Ashraf then grabbed Afshan by the hair and threw her across the bedroom, while she was crying and begging him to stop.
The extent of his three-hour assault was revealed ahead of Ashraf’s sentencing in January 2011 when the court heard how he punched her in the back and to the head as she cowered in a ball on the floor.
He reportedly hit her several times before dragging Afshan by her hair to their father Abdul Azad’s bedroom and told the patriarch to ‘sort your daughter out’ for tarnishing the family name.
The ordeal continued as Ashraf, who had reportedly been drinking, attempted to strangle Afshan before leaving the house to look for her Hindu boyfriend.
Her father Abul Azad (pictured) was charged with with making threats to kill her for tarnishing the family name by engaging in an affair with a Hindu man
The judge sentenced Ashraf – who was said to be ‘utterly ashamed by his behaviour’ that he blamed on alcohol – to six months in prison to send a ‘clear message’ that domestic violence ‘cannot be tolerated’
Mr Vardon revealed that Afshan was told she had no choice but to marry a Muslim man ‘or die’ as her mother labelled her a ‘prostitute’ and asked ‘why are you obsessed with sex?’
It was reported that Ashraf then said, ‘I’m going to kill you. I’m actually going to kill you,’ and left the room before he started ‘rattling through the kitchen drawers’ looking for a knife.
‘She was feeling very scared,’ the lawyer said, before explaining her decision to run away the next morning.
‘She felt that if she stayed things would get much worse. She said she was in genuine fear for her life.’
Both Afshan’s father, Abul Azad, and brother were subsequently arrested and charged with making threats to kill her. Afshan was also charged with one count of assault with intent to cause bodily harm that he later pleaded guilty to.
Despite her initial statement to the police, however, Afshan maintained she never wanted to take any legal action against her family members who she ‘loved dearly’.
Their lawyer John Wolfson at the time claimed that Afshan had tried to have her statement retracted and also ‘pleaded with the Crown Posecution Service not to proceed with the matter’.
‘This is a desperately sad situation. She never wanted her father or brother locked up.’
Shefali Chowdhury as Parvati Patil, Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter, Rupert as Ron Weasley and Afshan as Padma Patil in a still from Harry Potter and the Goblet Fire
Afshan did not testify at the trial and also pleaded for leniency ahead of Ashraf’s sentencing, begging the judge not to jail her older brother after both Abul and Ashraf were formally found not guilty of making threats to kill.
‘She expresses good feelings about her family in general and brother in particular,’ Judge Roger Thomas QC read from her letter. ‘She expresses concern about being estranged from her family.’
However, the judge sentenced Ashraf – who was said to be ‘utterly ashamed by his behaviour’ that he blamed on alcohol – to six months in prison to send a ‘clear message’ that domestic violence ‘cannot be tolerated’.
Her father accepted to be bound over for £500 to keep the peace for 12 months.
Afshan, whose family is originally from Bangladesh, was studying for her AS levels at Xaverian College in Rusholme, Manchester, when she was cast in the 2005 film Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire.
Before being picked to play the part of Padma Patil, the twin sister of Parvati Patli (Shefali Chowdhury), in the Harry Potter movies, Afshan had never acted and only went to the audition for a laugh.
Reflecting on her audition, she called it ‘the best experience of my life’.
‘I was a bit star-struck – I was a big Harry Potter fan.’
Harry Potter star Afshan Azad has shown her support for the franchise amid its other stars speaking out in opposition of JK Rowling, sharing a photograph of herself at a convention
Since then, she has continued to thank Rowling – who has been widely criticised in recent years for her stance on trans issues – publicly for creating the fictional universe that launched her career.
But her co-stars are less keen to be associated with Rowling while she continues to express divisive views on transgender rights.
Rowling – who also writes under the male pen name of Robert Galbraith – has been celebrating after the Supreme Court ruled that the definition of a woman is based on biological sex when interpreting the Equality Act.
She shared an image of herself puffing on a cigar on board her superyacht, captioned ‘I love it when a plan comes together’ after The A-Team character Hannibal, following the ruling, which has sparked protests across the country.
Following the post, Harry Potter star Sean Biggerstaff, who portrayed Quidditch captain Oliver Wood in three films, took to social media to label Rowling a ‘bigot’.
Other stars including Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson have previously voiced support for trans people and publicly dissented against Rowling’s views.
Though not mentioning the recent storm, Afshan took to Instagram in the days following Rowling’s comments on the ruling to share a tribute to the wizarding franchise.
She posted a photograph of herself smiling alongside a poster of herself as Patil as she attended German Potter Con at Arenfels Castle in Neuwied.
Azad (second left) starred as Padma in five of the Harry Potter films, starting with 2005’s Goblet of Fire, with Shefali Chowdhury playing her twin sister Parvati Patil (far left)
Remaining silent on the Supreme Court ruling, she gushed over how ‘lucky’ she is to still be involved with the wizarding franchise 24 years after the first movie hit screens.
‘I was once in a film you may have watched.. how lucky are we that we still get to travel to meet our incredible fans!’ her caption read.
The mother-of-two is active on Instagram, sharing images of her life with husband Nabil Kazi, whom she married in 2018, and their two daughters.
She is not afraid to comment on political issues, using a May 2024 post to accuse Israel of ‘the worst genocide in all of history’ amidst its campaign against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
She has not, however, commented directly on the Supreme Court case.