Ali Fazal has bagged a cameo role in Fast and Furious 7. He chats with Karan Bhardwaj about his two international projects
A lot of speculations were being made on the popular Indian actors joining the high profile cast of Hollywood flick Fast and Furious 7. However, an emerging actor Ali Fazal won the race. He will be seen in a small yet significant role in the action-packed film. “It’s a cameo. I have already shot one portion. I was in the US for two weeks,” says Fazal. The actor is in India for two months for another movie and will return to the US to shoot the remaining part of Fast and Furious 7. Fazal is excited about the film but doesn’t believe it would help him in shaping the career. “I just wanted to get an idea of how the industry there functions. It was a great experience. I shared the screen space with the entire cast. I saw racing cars around. They are amazing people to work with,” he tells us.
It’s an interesting story how Universal Studios traced him. Fazal is also shooting for another international movie titled For Here Or To Go. “Its photography team is same as that of Fast and Furious 7. I think they must have spoken about me and that’s how the production house called me. I got auditioned and shot for my role immediately,” he says.
About For Here Or To Go he says, “It’s inspired by a true story. It’s about a young software engineer in San Francisco who is told to go back to India and get the green card. However, he becomes one of the business tycoons in his own country. It is directed by Rucha Humnabadkar and also stars New York-based actor Mallisa.” The film is expected to release next month.
The next Bollywood film for Fazal is Baat Bann Gai, a parody on Shakespeare’s Comedy of Errors. It’s a rom-com and he will be seen in a double role. “I am excited since people haven’t seen double role stuff for a long time. Arjun Kapoor played it in Aurangzeb but it was very serious,” he says. About his character, he adds, “One is a Bihari don and other is the writer. Don enters into the writer’s love story and creates a mess. It’s a fun riot.”
Fazal belongs to lucknow and has been a geek. He was a student of Economics at St Xavier’s, Mumbai. “Acting began in school. I was a sporty person but had to take a break after I injured my hand. So, my friends suggested me to start taking part in plays. I did and enjoyed thoroughly. Then I started doing theatre. Raju sir (Raju Hirani) saw one my plays and called me for 3 Idiots. That’s how films happened,” he shares. Fazal is also playing a lead in Rohan Sippy’s next, Sonali Cable.