Riz Ahmed shares how one expensive gift him during struggling years

Riz Ahmed opened up about how a gift worked as an insurance policy during his financial crises years.

While he was still struggling to earn enough money to make living as an actor in late 2000s, he received a watch as a gift that worth more than his pay check.

"I had a much more humble idea of 'making it,' " Ahmed, told the People magazine while discussing his new film adaptation of Hamlet and his Prime Video miniseries Bait.

“I got awarded a watch at a film festival, I think in Zurich or something," the actor adds. "I didn't go. They just sent it to me,” he recalled. “I remember taking this watch and, and the watch was worth more than I got paid in the film. I think I got paid £1,000 for the film and the watch was worth £2,000.”

Ahmed continued, “I remember thinking, 'Okay, great. I've got an insurance policy. Anything ever goes wrong, I can sell the watch.' And that was the first time I kind of relaxed for a minute."

One of his earliest screen time came in 2008, when he starred in crime thriller Shifty, in which he starred as London based drug dealer. The film also marked his first leading role.

Discussing the watch’s importance and significance in his life, the Relay actor added, “I'll tell you the honest truth, the first time I unboxed that watch and wore it was last year. I think part of me was still just like 'Man, you never know.' "

Giving a nod to his luxury gift, Ahmed in his new series, revealed that the watch made it to the series also.

On the show, his aspiring actor character considers selling a watch obtained under similar circumstances at the end of the first episode.

Ahmed's adaptation of Hamlet is in theatres Friday, April 10. Bait is now streaming.

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