Qasim was born on June 8 1991. He went to school in Didsbury in his native Manchester and later attended the Cheadle and Marple Sixth Form College. Whilst still at college he landed his first film role in 'Mischief Night',alongside Kelli Hollis,who would later play his mother in his best known television role, that of Muslim shop-keeper Chesney Karib in Channel 4's 'Shameless'.