Oscar-nominated actor Riz Ahmed has called out Hollywood for the stereotypical and "toxic" portrayal of Muslim community in its films. Ahmed, who became the first Muslim to get a best actor Oscar nomination, recently launched the initiative, the Blueprint for Muslim Inclusion, to increase the community's representation in cinema.

In a video posted on his social media handles, Ahmed said, "The problem with Muslim misrepresentation is one that can't be ignored any more." The 38-year-old British-Pakistani actor said it was a "bittersweet" moment for him when he was nominated at the 2021 Oscars for his performance in "Sound of Metal".

The actor asserted that the problematic portrayal of Muslims in cinema is something that cannot be fixed by a "handful of prominent Muslims in the business". "The progress that's being made by a few of us doesn't paint an overall picture of progress if most of the portrayals of Muslims on screen are either nonexistent or entrenched in those stereotypical, toxic, two-dimensional portrayals," he added.

Ahmed singled out Oscar-winning movies -- "American Sniper", "The Hurt Locker" and "Argo" -- as "frankly racist". "(These) films dehumanise and demonise Muslim characters, insofar as they are the perpetrators or victims of violence, unworthy of empathy or incapable of empathy," the actor said. Similarly, he criticised Amazon's smash hit series "The Boys".

Such a thing would not happen to any other minority group, the actor said, citing the example of "Black Panther". "Even a film like 'Black Panther', one of the most woke progressive mainstream moments in our culture in recent years. And Muslims turn up in the start of that film as terrorists to kidnap school girls and then disappear," he added.

Jason Derulo: I've never been a cook

Chloe Fineman boards cast of 'Father of the Bride' remake

‘The Witcher’: Netflix drops intriguing first look teaser of season 2