British actor Rish Shah doesn't have much acting experience, but he has impressed so far as Kamala Kahan's crush, Kamran, in Ms. Marvel. The actor's only other notable roles are that of Ravi in To All the Boys: Always and Forever, and Virat in Casualty, but his lack of experience isn't unusual since he is only 23.
So far, MCU fans have learned a couple of things about Kamran from the Disney+ series, including the fact that his family was exiled from the Noor Dimension and that he is a member of the group known as ClanDestine/Djinn. However, there is information about him that still only exists in the comics.
He Grows Up With Kamala
In Ms. Marvel, Kamala first meets Kamran at her high school. In his origin story in Ms. Marvel Vol 3 #13, he is said to have grown up in Jersey City where his family was very close to the Khans.
The decision to omit the part where Kamran grows up with Kamala in the series is a good one because it creates room for Bruno to be her closest childhood friend. It also helps set up the storyline where Kamala develops an instant crush on Kamran upon meeting him for the first time. A romance angle would have had to be delayed if they had grown up together on screen too.
How He Acquires His Powers
In Ms. Marvel Vol 3 #13, Kamran is exposed to Terrigen Mist when he opens his window one night. Consequently, he acquires the power of Bioluminescence.
In the series, the simple explanation given for his powers is that he is a member of the Djin, a group of humans capable of tapping energy from the Light Dimension. This leaves a lot of questions unanswered. But in the comics, Kamran's power origin story is more fascinating because it's tied to Thanos. The Terrigen Mist is released by Black Bolt into the atmosphere when the Mad Titan invades Earth to look for his son, Thane.
He Is A Genius
On the Marvel pages, Kamran has had a high IQ ever since he was young. Because of this, he was accepted at MIT before he was even a teenager.
In the comics, MIT's prestige is magnified, with some of its notable alumni being Tony Stark and Doctor Otto Octavius. Kamran is, therefore, in very good company. Sadly, his intelligence isn't put to good use as he is never seen coming up with outstanding inventions or pulling off incredible feats that require brainpower.
He Works For Lineage
Kamran starts working for one of the most powerful Ms. Marvel villains, the mob boss Gordon Nobili, aka, Lineage, in Ms. Marvel Vol 3 #14. This happens shortly after he acquires his powers.
In the MCU, Lineage has already been a character in Inhumans, but it wouldn't be absurd to predict he might appear in Ms. Marvel since characters hop from project to project a lot in the franchise. After all, Kingpin recently appeared in Hawkeye, years after his stint in Daredevil. As for Kamran, his decision to work for Lineage is what marks his transformation into a villain.
He Has No Ties To The ClanDestine
In Episode 3 of Ms. Marvel, Kamran's mother, Najma, explains that she and her son are part of a group of superpowered beings known as the ClanDestine. In the comics, Kamran is never part of the group.
The ClanDestine makes its debut in Marvel Comics Presents #158 and is said to have been in existence for over 4 centuries. During this period, no one in Kamran's lineage is ever a member. The angle in the series is an interesting one since the ClanDestine mostly consists of heroes, yet Kamran and his family are generally villainous.
How He Discovers Kamala's Powers
Kamran visits Newark Avenue with Kamala in Ms. Marvel (Vol 3) #13 and while there, Kaboom starts attacking bystanders. This forces Kamala to defend them, revealing her powers in the process. In return, Kamran opens up about having special abilities too, then they share a kiss.
Ideally, this could have been the perfect romantic moment, but Kamran ruins it by kidnapping Kamala and taking her to Lineage. This ruins any chances of the two ever becoming one of the best couples in Marvel comics. Luckily, Kamala manages to escape and dedicates the majority of her time to hunting down Kamran.
He Turns Kamala's Brother Against Her
In Ms. Marvel (Vol 3) #16, Kamran kidnaps Kamala's brother Aamir in an effort to make Lineage see him as competent. He then exposes him to a substance that grants him powers and corrupts his mind. As a result, Aamir teams up with Kamran to fight Kamala.
It isn't clear whether Aamir still has powers or whether he is still under Lineage's payroll because he hasn't been seen again after the fight against his sister. In the series, Aamir and Kamala have a brilliant sibling relationship, so fans hope that Kamran doesn't get to ruin their bond.
He Tries To Recruit Kamala Too
Kamran tries to convince Kamala to work for Linage and become a member of the New Attilan Council. The organization is formed to ensure selective breeding practices among Inhumans.
Kamala briefly considers Kamran's offer because she has feelings for him, which don't vanish even after he kidnaps her. But thanks to her great moral compass, Kamala refuses to be indoctrinated. She maintains a firm stance, insisting that she will remain loyal to humans and her family.
Kamran's Mother Doesn't Have Much Of A Story In The Comics
On the pages, Kamran's mother only appears briefly during a dinner scene with the Khans. Her name isn't even mentioned. In the series, she seems set for a larger role as she not only appears in Kamala's vision but also reveals her family's superpower background.
It remains to be seen whether the decision to give Najma a bigger arc is a good one, but since the show has teenage themes and the importance of family is highly emphasized, it makes sense to have Kamran have his mother as an advisor or sidekick rather than for him to operate by himself.
Ms. Marvel Teams Up With Captain Marvel To Fight Kamran
Kamala is forced to call for help from one of the most powerful Avengers, Captain Marvel, in Ms. Marvel (Vol 3) #18 when the villain threatens to destroy her family. Together, they realize that what has corrupted Aamir's mind isn't Terrigen.
Seeking Captain Marvel's assistance helps because Kamran hasn't appeared in the comic again after being defeated by the two heroes. However, given how formidable he was, fans are definitely hoping that he comes back stronger soon. While Kamran hasn't shown similar powers in the show yet, it's possible that he'll let loose and catalyze a cameo from Captain Marvel herself.