Yahoo Movies Oscars 2021: Riz Ahmed steals red carpet after fixing his wife's hair for photographers
Watch: Riz Ahmed fixes wife's hair on Oscars red carpet
Riz Ahmed might not win an Oscar tonight, but he won plenty of hearts on the red carpet.
The 38-year-old star, who is nominated for his lead role in Sound of Metal, was spotted asking photographers to wait so that he could lend a hand to his wife — writer Fatima Farheen Mirza.
Read more: Ahmed discusses lengthy prep for Sound of Metal role
Ahmed referred to himself as the "official groomer" for his partner, sparking an outpouring of affection from excited fans on social media.
BuzzFeed writer Nora Dominick called Ahmed a "perfect human" after noting the interaction, while another user said he was "amazing".
Riz Ahmed pauses the #Oscars red carpet to fix his wife Fatima Farheen Mirza's hair: "I'm the official groomer" https://t.co/QrBqZ8y6n1 pic.twitter.com/YAGv6ut7Eu
— Variety (@Variety) April 25, 2021
Too cute. I think I'm dead. #DesiLove https://t.co/KpTashVtUN
— Dr. Ambereen Dadabhoy (@DrDadabhoy) April 25, 2021
Not Riz Ahmed pausing the Oscars red carpet to fix his wife’s hair WHAT A PERFECT HUMAN pic.twitter.com/sc5m1ldHuC
— Nora Dominick (@noradominick) April 25, 2021
Riz Ahmed stopping on the carpet to fix his wife's hair is so amazing 😭🥺
— Kaiser@Celebitchy (@KaiseratCB) April 25, 2021
did anyone else pass away watching riz ahmed tenderly fix his wife’s hair
— yohana desta (@yohanadesta) April 25, 2021
Ahmed met Mirza in a coffee shop — romcom meet-cutes do happen in real life — while he was preparing for his role in Sound of Metal and the pair wed in secret.
In an extra adorable touch, he revealed in an interview with Jimmy Kimmel that he popped the question to his wordsmith partner by spelling out his proposal using Scrabble tiles.
Read more: Everything on Amazon Prime in April 2021
Ahmed said the couple's wedding was a low-key affair, with only a limited number of guests allowed due to COVID-19 restrictions.
He said: "Obviously, we kept it super intimate and socially distanced. There was just like, hardly anyone there really.
"We did it in a backyard, which is nice in lots of ways. I think the nicest thing about it was you didn't have 500 aunties hanging around you, pinching your cheeks."
In Sound of Metal, Ahmed plays hard rock drummer Ruben who has to deal with a downward spiral after the sudden loss of his hearing.
His partner and bandmate, played by Olivia Cooke, is concerned about Ruben experiencing a relapse of his drug addiction and enrols him in a retreat for deaf addicts run by Joe — portrayed by fellow Oscar nominee Paul Raci.
Read more: Try our tricky Best Picture Oscar quiz
The movie debuted in the UK via Amazon Prime Video this month and is nominated for a total of six Oscars, including Best Picture.
The ceremony is airing this evening, from several locations in Los Angeles as well as venues across the world.
Watch: Trailer for Riz Ahmed in Sound of Metal
