Borat 2: Azamat actor explains why his character didn’t return for sequel

Ken Davitian played Borat’s disgruntled sidekick in the 2006 original

Borat actor Ken Davitian has explained why he didn’t appear in the recent sequel, to the dismay of many fans.

Davitian starred in the beloved 2006 original as Azamat Bagatov, the irascible producer who accompanies Borat (Sacha Baron Cohen) on his journey around the US.

However, in Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, the sequel released on Amazon Prime Video last week, Azamat was conspicuously absent.

In an interview with YouTuber Shamoon Reacts, Davitian explained that he hadn’t been informed that the project was a full-length feature sequel.

“They told me that Sacha was doing a big film, and there was a small part in it for the two of us,” he said.

“And I said, 'I don't want to reprise the character unless we're doing Borat 2. And they said, 'No, it's not Borat 2, it'll never be Borat 2. It's never happening'.”

Davitian said he then responded by asking why they were offering him the small role.

“They offered me a very little amount of money,” he continued, “and in the first movie I only made $60,000, and all they wanted to do was pay me a little more than that.

Ken Davitian (centre) and Sacha Baron Cohen (right) alongside Fox Filmed Entertainment Chairman Tom Rothman in 2006 (Getty Images)

“I said 'No I want to do Borat 2, that's what I was promised, that's what I want to do'. And so I didn't jump on board and then it comes out that it's Borat 2.”