Bradford’s newest big-screen star Aqib Khan has taken centre stage to introduce his first major film at the National Media Museum.

The 16-year-old welcomed guests to an exclusive, free screening of West Is West in which he plays bullied Pakistani schoolboy and the youngest of seven siblings, Sajid Khan.

Set in Salford, Greater Manchester, in 1975 , the film picks up the story of the Khan family four years on from 1999 comedy East Is East. Both films are written by British actor and playwright Ayub Khan-Din, who spent his childhood in Salford in the 1960s. In interviews, he has said Aqib’s character Sajid is a portrait of himself.

In this latest installment, father George Khan is concerned that Sajid is turning his back on his Pakistani heritage so takes him on holiday to his homeland where they bump into George’s first wife.

Speaking before the event, Aqib said: “Being a boy from Bradford, it’s a great feeling to be asked to introduce the preview of West is West in my hometown at the National Media Museum.

“This is a great venue, I’ve enjoyed coming here over the years. I really hope the audience enjoy it, if they don’t I don’t think I’d step out of my house.”

It is a phenomenal rise for Aqib, whose only other acting experience is at school productions in Bradford. Now a sixth form pupil at Thornton Grammar School, it was when he was at the former Nab Wood School that the opportunity to audition for the film arose.

His head teacher Elaine Shoesmith said: “The film company asked for my permission for him to miss about six weeks of school to go to India to film. He was in Year 11 at the time so it was a big thing to let him go.

“He originally went for the part, despite his lack of acting ability, because his achievement leader Jon Sanderson suggested he go for the interview.”

Aqib said: “My head of year wanted to speak to me and when I went to see him he gave me an audition slip. I started laughing. He hadn’t given this to anyone else. I went home and showed it to my mum and I thought about it that night.

“The description was something like ‘a short, little, annoying boy’ and I thought, I can do that so I went to Leeds for the audition. There was 200 people there. Then I went for others in Manchester and London.

“I thought I’ve got nothing to lose, I’m not an actor anyway. I’m just a normal boy who wanted to be a footballer or a racing car driver growing up.”

West Is West opens on February 25.