Ali Fazal: When my first film did not work, I thought everything was over, now I am getting roles like Mirzapur

Ali Fazal, who has made a name for himself not only in Bollywood but also in Hollywood for his/her roles, was recently seen in a popular Hollywood film like ‘Kandahar’. Ali, who came into the limelight with ‘Mirzapur 3’, is going to become a father very soon. Ali, who has been busy with his/her career and personal life in the past, believes that working in his/her industry is a different kind of fun. A special conversation with him/her.

Your fans say that a cute boy like Ali is going to become a father. How does it feel?
Do you have to be a daredevil to become a father (laughs loudly) To be honest, I am the same, that is not going to change. If something is changing, it is my monthly bills. Looking at those bills, I realize that I am growing up. When I see that I have to pay this bill as well as that, then I feel that you have grown up. These are the reminders of you becoming an adult. As far as my work is concerned, I go to the set like a four-year-old child. Sometimes it is also like a sadhna for me. By the way, the feeling of becoming a father is pleasant. I am still learning what it will be like to be a father.

Talking about your career, now roles are being written for you, but which was that rejection in your career which was very difficult for you?
My first film was ‘Always Kabhi Kabhi’, which was produced by Shahrukh Khan. That film flopped. I had no understanding at that time. I was very naive, but when the film did not work, I thought everything was over, because this was all I had seen and learned (cinema). I failed. Then I was unable to understand what next? That rejection was a rock bottom. The only ray of hope was that I could not go below that. I had to save that place of mine. I just kept doing my work.

When will the audience be able to see you in romantic and dancing-singing roles?
I did that in the first film as well. Now the audience will see it in the future as well. See, when I played the role of Guddu Bhaiya in Mirzapur, no one had even imagined that I would be able to play such a character. People used to say, you look like a cow. We cannot cast you in such roles. After the super success of Mirzapur, I am getting films with similar roles. Now they say that this is a unique character, so it means that when a character like Guddu Bhaiya has come, then romantic roles will also come.

You have done a lot of international cinema, but is the feeling of being popular in your own country different?
Of course, it feels like a homecoming. This is your own soil and land and when you do some work here, your people understand you and appreciate you, then the joy of it is different. When you work in your own language, then there is no language barrier. When you work on an international project, you have to work hard on it in a different way. For my last international film Kandhar, I had to learn the Pashto language. I took training in sand biking and I got injured many times in it. I am still suffering from those injuries. (Showing his/her hand) But it is true that in one’s own country, there is definitely a desire to tell one’s stories among one’s own people.

The characters in your series ‘Mirzapur’ are surprisingly grey. What is the grey aspect of your personality?
I think our flaws are our grey side. We are all grey. What we are hiding is actually who we are. Sometimes we have to wear a mask socially. I like the indecision of my character Guddu Bhaiya, which I feel is missing in my character Ali Fazal. My character takes quick decisions, but I think a lot. I take a lot of time to reach a decision. Sometimes I start overthinking.

You have been quite busy in the past few days, what do you do to maintain a balance between reel life and real life or to keep yourself connected to ground reality?
This is true. I have been very busy. After Mirzapur 3, I will have Metro In Dinon, Lahore 1947, Thug Life and a Hollywood film Afghan Dreamers. I have been working continuously for the past years. Whenever I need to refresh myself, come back to my world, I talk to Richa (wife). I switch off my phone at such times. We go for long walks. My favourite place to unwind is my home.