Ali Fazal chooses purpose over stardom in new phase of career

Indian actor says success comes from choosing meaningful stories, embracing creative risks instead of blockbuster hits

---

Ali Fazal posing for his digital cover on Elle India. PHOTO: Elle India

---

Indian actor Ali Fazal says he is no longer chasing stardom, choosing instead to pursue projects that align with his values and leave a lasting impact on audiences. Speaking to Elle India, the actor reflected on cinema, creative risks and why meaningful storytelling now takes precedence over commercial success.

Fazal said he increasingly prioritises roles that have "less relevance and more resonance", explaining that he wants both his Bollywood and Hollywood work to reflect the ambition and humanity that define him as a person rather than simply as an actor.

"Mostly the feeling that you've made less of a difference in people's lives," he said when asked what worries him most.

Using his upcoming film Raakh as an example, Fazal said some projects go beyond commercial success by sparking conversations.

"Sometimes you're part of things that work, and that's wonderful because we all need appreciation to move forward. But once in a while, there are projects that actually begin conversations. They come at a time when society perhaps needs them or needs reminding that, sadly, not much has changed fifty years later. That's what Raakh has done. It has humbled me."

The actor said his priorities have shifted significantly since the early days of his career. "Earlier, I'd jump into whatever came my way because I had to," he admitted. "Today, I can afford patience."

Rather than chasing one blockbuster after another, Fazal said he now gravitates towards intimate, character-driven roles, streaming projects and stories with emotional depth. He also revealed that the screenplay remains the deciding factor when choosing a project.

"The script is always the first thing. The punctuation in a screenplay tells you whether it's going to be good or bad. I'm not some A-list star who's staying away from genres because they'll spoil my image," he joked. "I've probably stayed away from bad scripts more than genres."

Reflecting on his career, Fazal credited one of his earliest films, Always Kabhi Kabhi, with shaping his understanding of filmmaking despite its modest box-office performance. "It taught me the grammar of cinema. It helped me understand filmmaking. That was the beginning of my journey."

The film also marked his first collaboration with Shah Rukh Khan, who produced the project. "He's one of the best artists we have. I'm really glad he was one of my first producers."

Fazal said international projects have similarly expanded his creative outlook, citing Victoria & Abdul as a defining experience that deepened his understanding of performance and storytelling.

Looking ahead, the actor said his upcoming slate reflects the variety he now seeks as a performer.

"It's funny because Raakh and Mirzapur: The Film are coming around the same time, and then there's Batwara 1947. They're all completely different worlds. It's a fun year. I'm enjoying it, and I'm excited for audiences to see more of me."

Speaking about Mirzapur: The Film, Fazal described the project as an ambitious experiment. "It's a giant experiment," he said. "We're bringing a streaming universe to theatres. Let's see if it works."

Although Guddu Pandit remains one of his most recognisable characters, Fazal said it is not the violence associated with the role that has stayed with him. "It's the gentleness. If people can look past all the violence and the trauma, there's innocence there. That's what has stayed with me."

Away from acting, Fazal and his wife, Richa Chadha, are quietly building their independent production company, Pushing Buttons Studios. He said the venture aims to support original storytelling at a time when the industry is still recovering from the disruption faced by cinemas.

"The industry is still recovering. After theatres struggled, everyone naturally started chasing whatever was working. But we've done experimental cinema before. We know how to do it."

Speaking about collaborating with Chadha, Fazal said creative disagreements are part of the process. "We have to, otherwise it would be boring."

Asked to describe his acting journey in a single word, Fazal chose "relentless", a reflection of a career that, for him, is now defined less by fame than by purpose.