Nadeem Razmaadi

Nadeem Razmaadi
Occupation:	Reseller
Appeared In:	Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
Played By:	Kumail Nanjiani

Nadeem Razmaadi is a layabout who unknowingly influences the events that take place in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.

History

Before Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire

Nadeem Razmaadi was an aimless slacker. He and his grandmother were never close. She called him "unambitious." Nadeem's brother went to engineering school. After the death of his grandmother, Nadeem sold her old possessions for money to get by and survive. He discovered a secret room behind the pantry while he looked for Pop-Tarts. It was filled with bronze objects, instruments, and chains.

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire

In the summer of 2024, Nadeem Razmaadi went to Ray's Occult Books with a box and asked Ray Stantz if he was the weird old guy who bought strange things. Ray confirmed he was both. Nadeem explained the box was full of stuff passed down to his recently deceased grandmother. Ray asked if she was a believer. Nadeem recalled she believed a lot of demented superstitious stuff. He wanted $30 for the whole lot. Ray keyed on the Orb of Garraka and studied the glyphs on it. Nadeem wanted $50 then 60. Ray noted brass objects were used to trap evil spirits and asked if he could take a P.K.E. reading. Nadeem thanked him for asking first but no else ever did and gave his permission. The store rumbled and the P.K.E. Meter broke. The counter froze and the display glass shattered. Ray was amazed by the display of off-the-chart telekinetic activity and full board convective spatter then immediately offered cash. Nadeem told him he had no change and left. Nadeem paused on a sidewalk to gather his thoughts and left. He was unaware he affected the flame of a street vendor's grill.

Two days later, Lucky Domingo, Lars Pinfield, and Trevor Spengler went to Nadeem's apartment. He let them in once they clarified they weren't interested in a refund. Nadeem told them he had a lot to sell and he was a licensed third party reseller of sneakers. He asked Trevor what his shoe size was. Trevor answered he was a ten. Nadeem knew he had none and offered him an eight to no avail. Lucky took a liking to Nadeem's grandmother's favorite art because of the "nipple stuff." Nadeem recalled it was his grandmother's favorite so he couldn't part with it then asked what her offer was. Trevor asked what his grandmother's deal was. Nadeem recalled they weren't close because she found him unambitious but he asked who was braver, his brother who went to engineering school or he for forging ahead with no education or future prospects. Trevor favored the latter. Lars steered the discussion to the orb. Nadeem remembered that was from the secret room where all the really good stuff was but he was not supposed to let anyone in. He showed them the secret room. Lucky complimented him on the "sex dungeon" and for his grandmother's taste. Lucky looked at a pair of horns. Nadeem offered to sell anything they were interested in. Lucky asked Lars if the whole room was brass or copper. Lars recalled brass was believed to be a magical alloy that trapped demons and tales dated back to the time of Solomon. Lucky scanned the armor. Trevor played a string instrument and noticed the room had no echos like a dead room. Lucky teased grandma could be as loud as she wanted. Nadeem asked them to stop making sex jokes about his recently deceased grandmother. Lars speculated the room kept the orb quiet. Everyone became concerned when Lucky picked readings off Nadeem with a P.K.E. Meter.

Nadeem was brought to the Paranormal Research Center. He was outfitted with the Aura Video-Analyzer helmet. Peter Venkman assured Nadeem he was only asking garden variety questions. He started with asking Nadeem if he was a human. He noted it was easy to answer unless he was possessed by a cross-dimensional beast. Nadeem confirmed he was human. Peter asked if he loved or killed puppies. Nadeem answered with the former. Peter asked him twice if he felt deja vu. Nadeem caught on. Peter threw a pen at his face. Lucky noticed a Bunsen burner flame reacted. Peter asked if he would eat a small child with its skin on or skinless. Nadeem was appalled and tried to stall by asking he meant a human child. Peter inquired if there were any other kind. Nadeem declared the interview was over. Peter noted he refused to answer. Nadeem panicked and asked if the child was related to him. Peter asked if that was necessary. Nadeem pointed out he brought it up and he didn't want to eat either. Peter threw a pen twice more into his face. Peter, Lars Pinfield and Lucky all say Nadeem, in his highly emotional state, was unknowingly manipulating the flame. Nadeem asked if he passed.

Lars, Lucky, and Trevor took Nadeem to the Firehouse. Nadeem was amazed by a fire pole. Trevor told him he should try it. Callie Spengler asked who he was. Nadeem explained he had a potential deep well of P.K.E. and was quite possibly possessed. He asked if he could try the fire pole. Callie told him to knock himself out. Lars scanned the Containment Unit but he was startled when Nadeem came down and shouted in amazement at how trashed the room was. Lars tried to tell him it was a sensitive area. Nadeem noted the place was a disaster. Lars implied it would not if a certain orb was kept in its rightful place. Nadeem sussed out he was insinuating it was his fault. Ray cited his Dadi was the guardian of the Orb and the last line of defense but it was now his turn and she either never told him about the Fire Masters or he was not listening. Ray pointed out he tried to sell his heritage for $50 but it was time to claim his destiny.

Nadeem was taken to the second floor and coached by Ray and Podcast into guiding the flame from a lighter into an unlit candle. Nadeem thought that was impossible but Ray recalled he stopped believing in that word a long time ago. Nadeem pointed out he went to senior prom as the back-up for someone's brother. Ray cited a history of people doing the impossible like the strength of Samson and speed of Achilles. Podcast cited the perfect pitch and sick dance moves. Nadeem was still skeptical and was shocked to see the flame move to the motion of his hand. Ray mentioned the Burning Bush, the flame brought by the Djinn from the Seven Earths, and that which flowed from the hair of Sambo-Kojin, the Japanese god of the hearth. Podcast inched the candle a little closer since it would be Nadeem's first try. Nadeem still believed they were all going to die.

The next day, Nadeem became concerned when Ray mentioned an "army of ghosts." Podcast touted their secret weapon. Nadeem demonstrated his pyrokinetic ability and made a lighter flame leap on a candle. Nobody's spirits were uplifted from the demonstration. A book near the candle caught on fire. Lars and Lucky unloaded Ecto-Z. Nadeem continued practicing on the second floor but he still struggled. He looked down at his Dadi's armor. Trevor and Lucky came down from the roof to the second floor. Lucky informed Nadeem the world was ending and not to go up the roof. Nadeem told him it was going terrible for him. Trevor implored Nadeem to keep practicing and promised they had his back. Nadeem looked at the cold front outside asked if one of adults could come and help. Possessor possessed Lucky's Particle Thrower and took aim at Trevor. Gary Grooberson ran down to take the blast for Trevor but Nadeem redirected the Proton Stream outside. Podcast quickly smashed up the Proton Pack with his Hammer of Truth. Possessor tried to hop away in a pizza left on the table but Slimer suddenly appeared, ate the pizza, and flew up through the ceiling. They all ran down to the ground floor except Nadeem. He wished them luck.

Nadeem decided to join the battle downstairs and suited up in the Fire Master armor. Nadeem awkwardly came down a fire pole. Nadeem tried using a deep, gruff voice at first but quickly abandoned it then offered Garraka a chance to call it even and go their separate ways. Garraka stated he was no Fire Master. Nadeem noted he gave him a chance but was unable to spark his lighter. Trevor realized he used up all the fluid practicing. No one had a spare lighter or matches. Garraka plucked the lighter away, froze it, and blew the pieces away then proceeded to freeze everyone and summon the his ghost army from the Containment Unit. Nadeem ran to the side and was not frozen. A column of energy shot out of the Containment Unit and Firehouse just like in 1984. Phoebe Spengler attacked with her brass plated Proton Pack but she, too, was frozen. Melody appeared and lit her match. Nadeem took control of the flame and blasted Garraka. The fire spread and thawed everyone out. Phoebe resumed blasting Garraka. They held off Garraka until he was pulled into the Containment Unit. Nadeem cheered then broke down and cried over the ordeal. Nadeem told a Channel 8 reporter he was a Fire Master like his Dadi. Lars stepped outside drenched in ectoplasm and asked if they won.

Powers

Nadeem has the ability of pyrokinesis.

Behind The Scenes

On January 15, 2024, Kumail Nanjiani's character was revealed to be named Nadeem Razmaadi.

On February 21, 2024, SFX #376 (March 2024) revealed Nadeem's arc is "stepping up to the plate in a way that will allow him to become closer to his full potential" and "in a lot of ways, representative of how we approach the story as non-Ghostbusters and as fans of the Ghostbusters world, both with a sense of scepticism and wonder, that healthy balance."

Trivia

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire Trivia

• Different shoes were considered for Nadeem to wear but it ultimately Air Jordans were chosen and as a nod to sneaker culture, Nadeem only wore Nike brand clothing.
• Nadeem's blue Nike hoodie was found in a thrift store by the costume department.
• Nadeem's purple outfit reading "American Idle" was scripted as a joke about Nadeem's slacker persona. Costume designer Alexis Forte thought it would be too much to have just go across the chest and after trial and error, decided on the words going vertically with splatters.
• Nadeem has various Nike and Puma shoes in his apartment.
• Nadeem's gaming chair is a X-Rocker.
• Nadeem has a Sony Playstation 5.
• Nadeem's armor was inspired by an etched metal decorative fan that costume designer Ruth Myers found in an antique mall by chance.
• Nadeem's armor was constructed by Ruth Myers and a firm named Makinarium Ltd in Pinewood Studios.
• Nadeem reveals he went to senior prom as back-up for someone's brother.
• Nadeem does a deep voice at first when he speaks to Garraka much like Christian Bale's Batman voice in the Nolan trilogy of Batman movies.
• Nadeem lives in Queens.
• Nadeem mentions the fictional location Narnia from the Chronicles of Narnia.

Appearances

Primary Canon Appearances

• Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire

Gallery

Promotional Stills

Still of Nadeem retrieved on March 9, 2024 (Credit: Booking.com)

Behind the Scenes Images

Kumail Nanjiani filming in Atlanta on December 5, 2023 (Credit: Getty, GC, MEGA)

Kumail Nanjiani filming in Atlanta on December 5, 2023 (Credit: Getty, GC, MEGA)

Filming final battle, seen in Return to the Firehouse featurette

Filming final battle, seen in Return to the Firehouse featurette

Filming final battle, seen in Return to the Firehouse featurette

Filming final battle, seen in Return to the Firehouse featurette

Filming final scene, seen in Return to the Firehouse featurette