Actor Ali Fazal says he was nervous when he first agreed to star in "Mirzapur", the crime drama series that went on to become one of India's biggest streaming hits. Today, as "Mirzapur: The Movie" gears up for its theatrical release, the "Raakh" actor is excited to see the popular series get a big-screen extension.
Fazal will return as Guddu Pandit, the bodybuilder-turned-gangster who became one of the show's most loved characters. The film will reportedly tell an untold chapter from the first season while bringing back several fan-favourite characters.
Calling the movie a unique project, Fazal said it is the first time in India that a successful web series is being turned into a feature film. "It's a national-level experiment," he told PTI, adding that the team is eager to share the film with audiences.
Launched in 2018, the same year that Anurag Kashyap and Vikramaditya Motwane's "Sacred Games", India's first full-fledged adult-friendly series with A-list actors came out, "Mirzapur" was placed alongside it. It became a massive success with its gritty portrayal of crime, politics and power struggles in Uttar Pradesh. The show ran for three successful seasons and featured a strong ensemble cast, including Pankaj Tripathi, Divyenndu, Shweta Tripathi, Rasika Dugal, Vijay Varma and others.
Fazal also revealed that he recently learned his "Fukrey" director, Mrighdeep Singh Lamba, had recommended him for the role. At the time, however, many people advised him not to accept the project because streaming platforms were still new in India.
"I was scared because I didn't know what this format would become," Fazal said. Many filmmakers encouraged him to focus only on movies instead of web series. Fortunately, he chose to listen to his instinct, and we are glad he did.
Having worked in international productions, Fazal believed streaming platforms would change the entertainment industry. He was also impressed by the script written by Puneet Krishna, saying it presented the world of India's hinterland in a fresh and compelling way.
Looking back, the actor believes "Mirzapur" allowed him to play a role that surprised audiences. "Nobody could picture me as that character. It has been quite the journey," he said.
The recently released teaser for "Mirzapur: The Movie" (theatrical release on Sept. 4) promises to explore that world in a much larger way. Along with Fazal, Pankaj Tripathi and Divyenndu return as Kaleen Bhaiya and Munna Tripathi. Jitendra Kumar joins the cast as Bablu Pandit, while Ravi Kishan also plays an important role.
Fazal believes the show's popularity has inspired many other crime dramas, much like Kashyap's "Gangs of Wasseypur" influenced filmmakers before it. He said audiences connected deeply with "Mirzapur" because of its memorable characters and rich storytelling.
Meanwhile, Fazal is also earning praise for his performance in the crime series "Raakh", in which he plays a police officer investigating the murder of two teenagers in a story inspired by the infamous Ranga-Billa case. Prosit Roy, the co-director of "Paatal Lok" Season 1, is one of the directors. Anusha Nandakumar and Sandeep Saket wrote and co-directed the Prime Video series.
