Ali Fazal still remembers the fear that came with saying yes to Mirzapur. Long before Guddu Pandit became one of Indian streaming’s most recognisable characters, the actor was unsure about stepping into a format that was still finding its feet in the country. Years later, the same world is now set to expand onto the big screen with Mirzapur: The Movie.
Ali, who returns as Guddu Pandit in the film, said he is excited about the anticipation around the cinematic extension of the cult crime drama. The movie will reportedly explore an untold chapter from the first season and bring back several key characters from the franchise.
“It’s the first time in India that a show is being transformed into a film. It’s a national level experiment that we are doing.
The story and the characters are all good. We are excited to share every (promotional) asset,” Ali Fazal told PTI in an interview.
Ali Fazal On Being Scared To Do Mirzapur
Launched in 2018, Mirzapur went on to become one of India’s most popular streaming shows, known for its gritty depiction of crime, politics, revenge and power struggles in Uttar Pradesh. The series was followed by two more seasons and built a loyal fan base over the years.
Ali featured in the show alongside Pankaj Tripathi, Divyenndu, Shweta Tripathi, Rasika Dugal, Vijay Varma, Isha Talwar, Harshita Gaur and Shriya Pilgaonkar. The series was created by Puneet Krishna and Karan Anshuman.
The actor revealed that he recently learnt that his Fukrey director Mrighdeep Singh Lamba had recommended his name to the makers of Mirzapur, produced by Excel Entertainment. At the time, Ali was still establishing himself in Hindi cinema and had also appeared in international projects. However, he said many people advised him against doing the show.
“I was scared at that time. I did not know what the format would be. It was the first time that the first few shows were being made (in India). The filmmakers were telling me what was I doing (by saying yes). They said, ‘do films,’” he recalled.
Having worked in the West, Ali said he could sense that a shift was coming in the entertainment landscape. That instinct helped him take the leap.
“I saw this changing era of OTT and shows. I felt a revolution was about to come. The way the script was written by Puneet Krishna, the world he has made of Mirzapur, it was really commendable. We had an idea about the hinterland and we would listen to stories, but I had never seen that place this way,” he said.
Looking back, Ali believes the show gave him the space to surprise audiences. “Nobody could picture me as that character. It has been quite the journey,” he added.
Mirzapur: The Movie To Bring Back Key Characters
The official teaser of Mirzapur: The Movie was unveiled earlier this week and promised to take the story forward on a larger cinematic scale. Apart from Ali Fazal, the film also brings back Pankaj Tripathi as Kaleen Bhaiya and Divyenndu as Munna Tripathi.
Jitendra Kumar joins the film as Bablu Pandit, a role originally played by Vikrant Massey in the first season, while Ravi Kishan has also been introduced as an important new element in the story.
Asked whether Mirzapur has made it difficult for other hinterland dramas because of its massive popularity, Ali said that often happens when something clicks with audiences. He cited Anurag Kashyap’s Gangs of Wasseypur as an example.
“Gangs of Wasseypur was cult cinema. Many people took it from there. They made great characters. I met my wife (Richa Chadha) but that’s a different story. That’s what happened in Mirzapur. The canvas was like that. People got attached to the characters,” he said.
Mirzapur: The Movie is slated to release on September 4.
Ali Fazal On Playing A Cop In Raakh
While he awaits the release of Mirzapur: The Movie, Ali Fazal is also receiving praise for his performance in the new series Raakh, directed by Prosit Roy.
The eight-episode crime drama is set in the 1970s and is inspired by the real-life case of murderers Ranga and Billa. Ali plays Jayprakash Jatav, a conscientious police sub-inspector who finds himself weighed down by the system while trying to find the killers of two innocent teenagers.
Ali said the series was emotionally challenging because one can never fully imagine the pain a family goes through after such a crime. He wanted to portray the cop not as a chest-thumping figure of power, but as someone quietly diminished by the world around him.
“There can be 10 other ways to play this character. I really wanted to understand the human condition behind this uniform. How, despite having so much power in that little frame, a society can shape you. Even structurally in the show, I am large. But he is almost shy of his presence in society,” he said.
Since the show is set in Delhi during the post-Emergency period, Ali said the team paid close attention to the language, paperwork and atmosphere of the time.
“This is a study of that time… All the paperwork was done in a way that was later changed. Everyone’s language was very strong. Everyone spoke in Hindustani. No matter where you are from, your language was very correct. These were the small points that I found very interesting because at that time, there was no technology and no shortcuts,” he said.
Ali Fazal Praises Raakh Co-Stars
Ali also praised Ramandeep Yadav and Akash Ahuja, who play the two murderers in Raakh. The series also features Aamir Bashir and Sonali Bendre.
“The way they have played the roles of these two criminals, it is mind-blowing. It is also a study in choices an actor makes. I am sure if some actors are watching this, they should really study. I really enjoyed watching their performances,” he said.
The actor added that Raakh could easily have become a story centred around his character, Jayprakash, but the makers chose to keep the victims and their family at the heart of the narrative.
“The makers have given a tribute to the victims. A what if scenario. It really breaks you,” he said.
Ali Fazal’s Upcoming Projects
After Raakh, Ali Fazal will be seen in a special appearance in Batwara; 1947, directed by Rajkumar Santoshi. The film stars Sunny Deol, Shabana Azmi and Preity Zinta, and is produced by Aamir Khan.
“It’s an important film. I’m a small part of it. The main characters are Sunny Paji, Preeti Zinta and Shabana Ma’am. They are great actors. It was wonderful to work with Santoshi. Aamir Khan has produced it. I was glad to share notes with such wonderful people. It was sweet,” he said.
Ali is also part of Netflix’s anthology series Lust Stories, in a segment directed by Shakun Batra.
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