After the first trailer aired in March 2021, the series was criticized for casting a non-Afghan actor in the title role, and for the character's depiction in general. One of the show's executive producers, Reza Aslan, responded to the criticism, tweeting, "Maybe learn a little about the show, its creators, its producers, its four Afghan writers, its plot, and pretty much everything else before you announce your opinion of it. Just a thought."
Despite playing an Afghan character, Adhir Kalyan is South African of Indian descent.
Farrah Mackenzie is 4 1/2 years older than her character, Hazel.