Ali Fazal, who had begun his career a decade ago with Aamir Khan-starrer 3 Idiots, says the superstar’s hunger for knowledge has stayed with him throughout his journey. Ali, who had a cameo appearance in the Rajkumar Hirani-directed 2009 blockbuster, says film was a learning experience for him.
“I used to always observe Aamir. Between takes, we would snap out and play chess and read books. That stuck with me for some reason. His thirst for knowledge, that even at that level the man was going nuts, trying to figure out and say ‘I haven’t learnt enough’,” Ali was quoted as saying in an interview.
The actor says he is glad he realised so early in his career that a performer should never get complacent. “I realised it’s never enough, especially for artistes. We are doomed if we are satisfied. We have got to keep going. If I’m completely satisfied with Mirzapur, that’s the death of me,” he added.
Tigmanshu Dhulia’s Milan Talkies featuring Ali was released on March 15. While the filmmaker has been wanting to make the film since 2012, a chance visit to Tigmanshu’s office landed Ali the lead part in the romantic-drama. “I met Tigmanshu randomly four years ago in his office. I had gone to congratulate him for Paan Singh Tomar and he told me he’s making Milan Talkies. Then four years later he calls me for the same film!
“It was such a well-written script. I couldn’t put it down. I’ve always admired Tigmanshu as a writer and director. He’s a rockstar, and he was in such fine form with this one,” he added.
Ali, who was recently seen in films such as Happy Phir Bhaag Jayegi, Fukrey Returns and the Hollywood project Victoria and Abdul, believes people who do not hail from a film family have to often prove themselves.
“For somebody who doesn’t have those connection, sometimes you have to prove yourself. You are your last hit film. Now I know I have to really plan, be careful. Of course, I can’t say I can’t deliver a flop, no one can. But what helps us is that there are no expectations from someone who’s an outsider. You can quietly do your work and keep going.”
After Victoria and Abdul, Ali Fazal is starring in another Hollywood project, which is expected to go on floors next year. Ali said, “It’s a biopic, a war drama. But it’s going to take time. I’m very new in the market there, barely one film old so they have to attach big names to it in the other cast. That’s happening right now.”
The actor says there’s also one indie project but he has to wrap up his commitments here first. “We were supposed to start the biopic by the end of this year but I think now it will be January 2020. I’ve to finish my commitments here first.”
The actor will also be shooting for Amazon Prime Video’s India original Mirzapur season two. The first season of the show, created Puneet Krishna and directed by Gurmmeet Singh, featured an ensemble cast of Pankaj Tripathi, Ali, Vikrant Massey, Shweta Tripathi, Rasika Dugal, Divyendu Sharma and Kulbhushan Kharbanda
“The series is going further because the writing is not one dimensional, there are so many layers. In part two, the audience thinks it will be all about revenge but there’s so much more that will happen. My best wishes to Sacred Games too because I’m excited about that as an audience,” he said.
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