Ali Fazal has come a long way since first stepping into the gritty world of Mirzapur, but the actor admits he was initially hesitant about joining the now-iconic crime drama. Today, as ‘Mirzapur: The Movie’ prepares for its theatrical release, Fazal is thrilled to see the franchise make history by becoming the first Indian streaming series to be adapted into a feature film.
Reprising his fan-favourite role of Guddu Pandit, the bodybuilder-turned-gangster, Fazal said the film will revisit an untold chapter from the show’s first season while bringing back several beloved characters. Speaking about the ambitious project, he described it as a first-of-its-kind experiment in India.
“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,” the actor said.
Since its debut in 2018, ‘Mirzapur’ has become one of India’s most successful streaming franchises, earning a loyal fan base for its raw portrayal of crime, politics and power struggles in Uttar Pradesh. The series has since expanded into three successful seasons featuring an ensemble cast including Pankaj Tripathi, Divyenndu, Shweta Tripathi, Rasika Dugal, Vijay Varma, Isha Talwar, Harshita Gaur and Shriya Pilgaonkar.
Fazal revealed that he only recently learned his ‘Fukrey’ director, Mrighdeep Singh Lamba, had recommended him for the role. At the time, however, accepting the project was anything but an easy decision.
“I was scared at that time. I did not know what the format would be. It was the first time that web shows were being made in India. Many filmmakers told me to stick to films instead,” he recalled.
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Having already worked in Hollywood productions, Fazal said he sensed the entertainment industry was entering a new phase with the rise of OTT platforms. That belief, coupled with Puneet Krishna’s compelling writing, convinced him to take the leap.
“I saw a revolution coming. The world that Puneet Krishna created for ‘Mirzapur’ was extraordinary. We had heard stories about the hinterland, but I had never seen it portrayed like this,” he said. Looking back, the actor believes Guddu Pandit became one of the defining roles of his career because it allowed audiences to see him in a completely different light. “Nobody could picture me as that character. It has been quite the journey,” he added.
The recently released teaser for ‘Mirzapur: The Movie’ promises to continue the franchise on a much larger cinematic scale. Alongside Fazal, Pankaj Tripathi returns as Kaleen Bhaiya, while Divyenndu reprises his popular role as Munna Tripathi. Jitendra Kumar joins the film as Bablu Pandit, replacing Vikrant Massey’s character from the first season, while Ravi Kishan also plays a significant role.
Reflecting on the show’s immense popularity, Fazal said every groundbreaking project inspires similar stories. Drawing comparisons with Anurag Kashyap’s ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’, he noted that cult productions often influence an entire generation of filmmakers.
While eagerly awaiting the September 4 release of ‘Mirzapur: The Movie’, Fazal is also receiving praise for his performance in the crime series Raakh. Set in 1970s Delhi and inspired by the infamous Ranga-Billa case, the show features him as police sub-inspector Jayprakash Jatav, an honest officer battling a flawed system while investigating the murder of two teenagers.
Fazal described the role as emotionally demanding, saying he wanted to portray the vulnerability behind the police uniform rather than simply its authority. He also praised the show’s authentic recreation of post-Emergency India, highlighting its attention to language, bureaucracy and the social atmosphere of the era.
The actor reserved special praise for co-stars Ramandeep Yadav and Akash Ahuja, calling their portrayals of the two murderers “mind-blowing” and a masterclass in acting choices. He added that Raakh ultimately honours the victims and their families rather than glorifying crime.
Looking ahead, Fazal will also make a special appearance in Rajkumar Santoshi’s ‘Batwara; 1947’, starring Sunny Deol, Shabana Azmi and Preity Zinta, while he is also set to feature in Netflix’s upcoming anthology ‘Lust Stories’ in a segment directed by Shakun Batra.
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