Gladiator II Cast: Ridley Scott is back with the sequel of Gladiator, 24 years after he made the Russel Crowe-starrer, notching up five Oscars besides other awards. The much-awaited film hit the theatres this past week, and is getting rave reviews. While Russel Crowe’s character, gladiator Maximus, was killed off in the 2000 movie, the sequel follows the escapades of his son Lucius, played by Paul Mescal. The star-studded film has Denzel Washington playing Macrinus, Connie Nielsen in the role of Lucilla, Pedro Pascal as Marcus Acacius, and Fauda lead Lior Raz as Viggo. However, the character that everyone is talking about in India is 'Ravi', a 'doctor from Varanasi' who treats wounded gladiators.  


'Ravi' has been played by Alexander Karim, a Swedish actor. In the film, 'Ravi' is a retired gladiator who has turned doctor. He plays a significant role, as a confidant of protagonist Lucius, the Prince of Rome who has lived a life in exile first as a soldier and then as a gladiator held captive by the Roman emperor. 


"...the character (Ravi) turned into a lot more than what he had been originally," Karim recently said in an interview.  






Who Is Alexander Karim?


Alexander Karim is a familiar name and face in the Scandinavian region as he has appeared in a number of Swedish films and television series. He has also tried his hands in the American film industry, and acted in titles such as Dying of the Light, and Zero Dark Thirty.    


Karim looks convincing as 'Ravi' in Gladiator II, but he has no India connection. 


Born on May 26, 1976, in Sweden's Helsingborg, Skåne län, Alexander Karim's birth name was Alexander Ally Karim, according to IMDb. 


His parents were said to have been refugees from Uganda who fled to Sweden in 1975 to escape Idi Amin's rule back home. The 48-year-old is married, and a father of three, his Instagram bio says. His two brothers are also into films, with both workng as directors.



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Alexander Karim As 'Ravi'  


In an interview to Vogue Scandinavia, Alexander Karim said he had auditioned for the film with a self-tape after he heard that Scott was casting for Gladiator II. He was called for a second audition, and was told three days later that he would be playing Ravi, Karim said in the interview. 


Legendary director Ridley Scott is a "sort of god" in the Karim household, a family of filmmakers, and it was a "special, special thing" to be able to work with him, he said.


Talking about working in the film, parts of which were shot in Malta, Karim told the magazine that he had finished shooting his parts in five weeks, but was called back for more. "They said that...people had asked for more Ravi. So I went back to shoot, and the character turned into a lot more than what he had been originally.”  


Alexander Karim is confident that Gladiator II will do well. “I’ve seen it and absolutely love it, so I’m not nervous. I’m just enjoying the ride.”