Riz Ahmed Malaysian Food Experience: Actor Gains Weight While Filming In Penang

British actor Riz Ahmed has shared a hilarious consequence of enjoying Malaysian food during his recent film shoot in Penang. Appearing on the Dish podcast, the Emmy-winning actor revealed that he gained enough weight for his production team to alter his costumes, including his trousers. Despite the unexpected wardrobe adjustments, Ahmed said he had no regrets about indulging in Malaysia's diverse cuisine.

Malaysian Food Was So Good, Riz Ahmed’s Costumes Could No Longer Fit

Imagine visiting Malaysia for work, discovering the food is incredible, and returning to your film set only to realise your costumes no longer fit. That’s pretty much what happened to British actor Riz Ahmed during his recent stay in Penang. The 43-year-old actor shared the amusing experience during an appearance on the Dish from Waitrose podcast, where he spoke about spending approximately two months in Malaysia for a film production. According to Ahmed, his enthusiasm for local food resulted in noticeable weight gain, leaving the wardrobe department with an unexpected problem. His costumes had to be adjusted, including alterations to his trousers, to accommodate the changes. Rather than expressing frustration, the actor laughed about the situation and made it clear that he wouldn’t change a thing about his Malaysian food experience.

What Makes Malaysian Food So Special To The British Actor?

For Ahmed, the appeal of Malaysian cuisine goes beyond finding a few delicious dishes. During the podcast conversation with hosts Nick Grimshaw and Angela Hartnett, he explained how Malaysia’s multicultural background creates a unique combination of flavours and cooking traditions. He particularly appreciated the influence of Malay, Indian, Chinese and Indonesian cuisines, describing how these different culinary styles come together to create something distinctive. Among the foods he mentioned were roti, rendang and variations of nasi goreng, highlighting the variety that makes Malaysian meals so interesting. Ahmed also revealed that he was already a fan of Malaysian cuisine before visiting the country, even mentioning Champor-Champor, a restaurant near London Bridge, as one of his favourites. However, spending an extended period in Malaysia gave him an opportunity to enjoy those flavours much closer to their roots.

From Penang’s Food Scene To A Major Netflix Production

Ahmed’s memorable food adventure happened while he was in Malaysia working on The Big Fix. The upcoming Netflix crime thriller also stars Mark Wahlberg and is directed by Baltasar Kormákur. Inspired by a true story, the film centres on an international football match-fixing investigation involving a former Interpol officer. Parts of the production were filmed in Penang, bringing international cast members and crew to locations around the state. Ahmed, who previously won an Emmy for The Night Of and received an Academy Award nomination for Sound of Metal, may be accustomed to demanding film productions, but his time in Malaysia apparently presented a rather different challenge for the costume department. While the film itself promises crime and suspense, his behind-the-scenes experience has provided Malaysians with a much lighter story: our food was simply too tempting to resist.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Why did Riz Ahmed need his movie costumes altered in Malaysia?

Riz Ahmed said he gained weight after enjoying Malaysian food during an approximately two-month film shoot. His production’s wardrobe team subsequently had to adjust his costumes, including his trousers.

Which Malaysian foods did Riz Ahmed mention?

During his podcast appearance, Ahmed spoke about roti, rendang and nasi goreng, while praising the combination of culinary influences found in Malaysian cuisine.

What movie was Riz Ahmed filming in Penang?

He was working on The Big Fix, a Netflix crime thriller starring Mark Wahlberg and directed by Baltasar Kormákur.

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SOURCES

Primary news source: WORLD OF BUZZ.

Report date: 9 November 2026.

Supporting source: Malay Mail.

Original interview source: Dish from Waitrose podcast.

Individuals involved: Riz Ahmed, British actor and rapper; Nick Grimshaw, broadcaster and podcast host; Angela Hartnett, chef and podcast host.

Location involved: Penang, Malaysia, where Ahmed spent approximately two months filming. The interview was shared through the Dish podcast.

Film involved: The Big Fix, a Netflix crime thriller starring Riz Ahmed and Mark Wahlberg.

Relevant organisations: Netflix and Dish from Waitrose.

Information status: Ahmed personally described his weight gain and costume alterations during a podcast interview. His comments were lighthearted, and he expressed no regrets about enjoying Malaysian food. No specific amount of weight gained was disclosed in the cited reports.

Original article: WORLD OF BUZZ

Additional reference: Malay Mail

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By – Tarziman — 09:49PM
An independent writer who enjoys finding interesting angles in everyday stories. He believes even the simplest moments can be worth sharing when they’re told in a clear, relaxed and easy-to-understand way.