Winthrop’s Rising Star of Screen

Shahjehan Khan stands out in his role in Netflix’s No.1-ranked movie, ‘Aftermath’

 By Cary Shuman

You may have seen him walking through Winthrop Center or dining with his wife, Lauren, a brilliant scientist, at his favorite restaurant, Bridges Nepali Cuisine.

But one thing for sure is that millions of movie fans have seen Winthrop’s Shahjehan Khan in the independent, action thriller film, “Aftermath,” which has attracted a substantial international audience.

Aftermath, in which Khan appears as Ozzie in what turns out to be a critical role in the movie’s outcome, has zoomed up the charts to be Netflix’s No. 1 movie.

What makes the movie and Khan’s starry debut even more fascinating is that the movie’s scenes are portrayed on the Tobin Bridge, and you can see Logan Airport, Chelsea City Hall, and perhaps, Winthrop, in the movie before the famed bridge becomes the scene of a hostage situation.

An overwhelming
moment

Understandably, Khan is excited about the phenomenal support for the movie, which featured his first-ever speaking role.

“It was very overwhelming at the time. I got there, and going from someone who had maybe only been an extra on a film here and there to all of sudden on Day 1, they [the directors] handed me a gun, they gave me a trailer, and they were like, here’s your [body] double,” said Khan. “So, I was like, wow this is really something.”

A successful audition

A handsome, 5-foot-11-inch actor who has done modeling and voiceover work and hosted his own podcast, Khan said he auditioned for the role through his affiliation with Boston Casting and his former agency, Model Club.

“I’ve appeared in student-produced films and corporate videos, but I never seemed to be able to book movies,” related Khan. “I remember I was at Crunch Fitness in Lynn, and I received notification that I had an audition for this character named Ozzie. I did a live Zoom callback with the director, Patrick Lussier, and the other casting people. They asked me to tape one more audition, and I got the part. I eventually got the script, and I was like, oh my, this guy is in a bunch of scenes.”

Khan revealed exclusively to the Sun-Transcript that the exterior shots are indeed of the real Tobin Bridge, “but they built a replica of the Tobin Bridge at an airplane hangar in Weymouth.”

Khan said he is grateful to Lussier for the opportunity to be in the movie.

“He’s a pretty impressive guy. He’s really someone who’s helped me so much. He’s been so supportive.”

Dylan Sprouse (The Suite Life of Zack and Cody), Dichen Lachman (Severance), Mason Gooding (son of Oscar-winning actor Cuba Gooding Jr.), and Megan Stott (Penelope) are the leading actors in the movie.

On-being recognized in the street

Shajehan Khan, 41, who is of Pakistani descent, grew up in Boxboro, graduated from Acton-Boxboro High School in 2002, and holds a master’s degree from UMass Lowell in community social psychology. He is a homeowner in Winthrop where he has lived for a dozen years.

He started a punk rock band, The Kominas, in the early 2000s, and toured the nation.

Khan said he is currently “a person in recovery.” “I’m pretty open about it. I’ve been sober 14 years,” said Khan.

Following the success of Aftermath, Khan has been receiving second looks and autograph requests from people he encounters in Winthrop and beyond.

“Because the movie is No. 1 ranked, a lot of people ask me, ‘Did I just see you in a movie?’ ’’ related Khan.

As he prepares for his next movie role, Khan is producing a show, “Karachi Nights” about music in Pakistan in the 1970s. He is also a highly sought-after narrator for audio books. And a man whose movie career Winthrop residents will now be following closely and proudly