Actor Ali Fazal is preparing for the release of Mirzapur: The Movie, one of the most anticipated projects for fans of the hit crime drama franchise. In a recent interview, he opened up about the decision to bring the series to the big screen, revealing that the idea surprised even the cast.
Surprise Transition to Film
Speaking about the move from web series to feature film, Ali admitted the team never anticipated such a step. "That was quite a surprise because we never thought about it. Nothing like this has happened in India before. It's an experiment that we're doing, and hopefully we'll be able to bring everyone along with us," he told Pinkvilla. The actor added that the film will revisit the familiar world audiences have loved since the show's debut.
Original Cast Returns
Without revealing too many details, Ali hinted that fans can expect to see several familiar faces. "It's an entry back into the world where we started. The entire original cast from Season 1 is back. There's logic to it all, but I won't say more than that," he shared. He also clarified that the movie is connected to the series events and is not a random spin-off. "Everything is related. It has to be," he said.
Mirzapur Became a Cult Phenomenon
Reflecting on the franchise's massive success, Ali said he never imagined it would grow into such a large cultural phenomenon. "Even Season 1 was an experiment for me because I had never done a role like Guddu Bhaiya before. Nobody had seen me in that avatar. It changed everything drastically," he said. The actor noted that the show's popularity exceeded expectations. "It started behaving like a film. It became too much of a cult."
How Guddu Bhaiya Changed Audience Perception
Ali revealed that audiences now strongly associate him with the rugged, muscular image of Guddu Bhaiya. "When I go to smaller towns, people get upset if I'm not built like Guddu. They say, 'You've become so thin. What happened?' They expect me to always look like that character," he said. He believes this reaction ties to conventional ideas of masculinity. "People still have this image that a man should look physically imposing, whether it's Sunny Deol or now Guddu Bhaiya."
The Challenge of Body Transformations
Ali also spoke about the physical demands of switching between roles and body types. "The body changes every year. It depends on your diet, and the transition period is very frustrating. Right now, I'm in that transition phase. We recently finished Mirzapur, and it takes a toll. Sometimes it takes six months or more for your body to adapt," he explained.
Mirzapur: The Movie is slated to release on September 4 and marks the first time the hugely successful streaming franchise will make its way to the big screen.
