Ali Fazal reveals why filmmakers asked him to reject ‘Mirzapur’… ‘I Was scared, But I knew a revolution was coming’

Mumbai: Today, Ali Fazal’s portrayal of Guddu Pandit in Mirzapur is considered one of the most iconic performances in the Indian OTT space. But before the crime drama became a nationwide phenomenon, the actor admits he was uncertain about taking up the role and several filmmakers even advised him against it.

As anticipation builds for Mirzapur: The Movie, Ali reflected on the early days of the franchise and revealed how choosing an OTT series over mainstream films was viewed as a risky career move.

‘I Was Scared at That Time’

Looking back at the beginning of his Mirzapur journey, Ali said he had little idea about how web series would be received in India.

He admitted that the OTT format was still new, and many people within the film industry encouraged him to continue focusing only on movies instead of experimenting with digital content.

Despite the warnings, Ali believed that the entertainment landscape was about to change.

He recalled that after reading the script written by Puneet Krishna, he was deeply impressed by the unique world and layered storytelling of Mirzapur, which convinced him to take the leap.

According to the actor, that instinct eventually proved to be one of the most important decisions of his career.

A Surprise Behind the Casting

Ali also shared an interesting revelation about how he landed the role of Guddu Pandit.

The actor recently discovered that Mrighdeep Singh Lamba, who directed him in the Fukrey franchise, had recommended his name to the makers of Mirzapur.

He said he only learned about this connection much later, making the experience even more special.

A Landmark Moment for Indian Entertainment

Speaking about Mirzapur: The Movie, Ali described the project as a first-of-its-kind experiment in India.

According to him, adapting a successful web series into a theatrical feature film is a significant milestone for the Indian entertainment industry.

He expressed confidence that audiences would enjoy seeing the beloved characters return on a much bigger cinematic canvas.

From OTT Phenomenon to Big Screen

Since its debut in 2018, Mirzapur has become one of India’s most successful streaming franchises.

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Set in the crime-ridden landscape of Uttar Pradesh, the series won praise for its gripping narrative, powerful performances and memorable characters.

Alongside Ali Fazal, the show featured acclaimed performances by Pankaj Tripathi, Divyenndu, Shweta Tripathi, Rasika Dugal, Vijay Varma, Isha Talwar, Harshita Gaur and Shriya Pilgaonkar.

What to Expect from Mirzapur: The Movie

The upcoming film will see Ali Fazal return as Guddu Pandit, while Pankaj Tripathi reprises his fan-favourite role as Kaleen Bhaiya.

Divyenndu is also back as Munna Tripathi, one of the franchise’s most beloved characters.

One of the biggest surprises is the addition of Jitendra Kumar, who takes over the role of Bablu Pandit, originally played by Vikrant Massey in the first season. Actor Ravi Kishan will also play a key role in the film.

The makers have revealed that the movie will explore an untold chapter from the first season while expanding the world of Mirzapur for cinema audiences.

Mirzapur: The Movie is scheduled to hit theatres on September 4, marking the franchise’s highly anticipated transition from streaming screens to the silver screen.