Ali Fazal on international hustle, Hollywood myths that need to break and why Indian films ‘have it all’: ‘Have to start championing each other’

In an interview with indianexpress.com, Ali opens about how his Hollywood hustle, the challenges of bagging the right international project, casting myths that need to be broken and why this is perhaps the best time for him to be an actor, who wants to use the world as his stage.

Edited excerpts:

 

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How do you assess you journey from 3 Idiots to Kandahar?

Rewarding, diverse and democratic. In fact, now I find myself in troubled spots because I am trying to work both sides. That’s another hustle, but I am not complaining. I am just finding my way, finding my footing. I am fairly new on the other side, it seems like I have done a lot of international films, but there is a lot of work happening in the rest of the world (as well). I guess its never going to be enough. But if I close that out (international career), then I have a very interesting career here that I can carry on, I’d be very satisfied, which I already am.

What are the challenges to bag a good, credible international project? I am sure there are multiple layers one has to cross. 

We have also seen the world change in the last few years. Earlier, you’d probably just sit and wait for the right audition to come, the first film that needs to work, and then of course if it works and you are there, you find your agents and start getting into the mix. Now, apart from all these films being made, there is also narratives that are starting to claim culture. So a lot of inclusivity is being looked at, people want to work with people from all over the world and not have them come and do the dance. That’s what our generation is going to enjoy in the near future. I don’t think there will be a, ‘Wow he is working in Hollywood’ narrative. It will be fine, like it will be normalised. It has to be, about time we do that so we start excelling and having pride of our own.

 

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Do you think there are a few Hollywood myths that need to be burst, especially in terms of casting? That, ‘Oh, he’s done a few international projects, so it could be easy for him to do the next one.’

Oh God, no! Yes that’s probably a myth, it is not easy.  There are people from all over the world, people from so many ethinicities fighting for that one role, fighting for stories to be told. In that, somewhere, I belong to one. So it is only fair that it will be a hard one, not an easy walk. Unless I start producing at that scale. Like how Parasite suddenly shot up, it was totally rooted in its culture. Or a Roma. We have some iconic films coming out of India, from documentaries like Shaunak Sen’s All That Breathes, which was nominated. We just have to start championing each other a lot more than we do. We have it all.

Does it sometimes feel like a dream, because you’re working with stars like Gal Gadot, Gerad Butler, Judi Dench?

I do take a step back and go, ‘wow.’ That doesn’t stop to amaze me, at all times. But at the same time, I am hungry for more exciting work. When it comes with these wonderful people attached with projects, it promises some excitement. I live for that.

Does it ever make you nervous, to work with artistes we have admired for so long on screen?

That went out a while ago. I get excited to share notes! I want to get on the floor and be like, ‘Lets get in the ring and play!’

How was it like to play here in Kandahar?

Amazing! This was literally playing with a lot of guns and action. Gerad had obviously done loads and loads of action films before, so this was definitely a new experience for me. I have never done this kind of dirt bike-y, Mad Max meets Terminator, a loner in the desert, cashing these guys. After a long time it was a part that I knew I was bringing something unique to. As opposed to becoming a part of something that was already being made, for instance an Agatha Christie (Death on the Nile). There, it’s only that much you can do. I was very blessed that Kenneth Branagh re-arranged the role to fit in… It was a blind casting.

What do you mean when you say here you got a chance to bring something unique?

As an actor, you want to make all your parts unique but in this one I felt a little more freedom. That also depends on the director a lot. Ric Roman Waugh collaborates very well. For the first time I worked with him and realised that his process was very welcoming. We would sit down, discuss the characters, the scenes, which evolved over time.