Ali Fazal on playing Guddu Bhaiya; Found it easier to give gaalis in 'Mirzapur'
Ali Fazal's role as Guddu Bhaiya in 'Mirzapur' challenged him to adopt a new persona, influenced by his nervousness on set. His authentic portrayal, aided by studying local nuances, earned global recognition, especially among the Indian diaspora. Despite the show's harsh language, Ali used few abusive words himself.
Ali Fazal
who started his career with a small role in the film 'The Other End of the Line' has gone on to make his mark on television and international cinema. In a recent interview, Ali opened up about how his character Guddu Bhaiya from 'Mirzapur' became famous worldwide and how his own nervousness influenced the way he acted.
The Challenge of Portraying Guddu Bhaiya
Speaking to Bollywood Bubbles, Ali Fazal revealed that playing Guddu Bhaiya in 'Mirzapur' was a significant challenge for him. He explained that the role required a transformation unlike anything he had done before, as it was very different from his own personality and the characters people usually see him portray. To prepare for the part, Ali immersed himself in understanding the local people and their surroundings.
He credited the show's writer and director,
Puneet Krishna
, for creating an authentic world that greatly helped him. He shared, 'I used to take notes—like the pronunciation marks, intonations, and those little linguistic nuances, which are very important, because every region has its way of speaking.'
Global Recognition and Audience Impact
Ali reflected on the widespread global popularity of his character Guddu Bhaiya, saying, 'It feels nice, I mean that you've reached people.'
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He mentioned that in India, it seemed like almost everyone with a mobile phone had watched the show, even if not on TV. Sharing his experience from a recent trip to New York, Ali revealed that he was recognized 90% of the time he went out, either for his role in 'Victoria and Abdul' or 'Mirzapur'.
He added, 'People only had two things to talk about, and you also realise how massive our NRI audience is, how strongly it functions globally.'
On Using 'Gaalis' in Mirzapur
When questioned about how easy it was for him to use abusive language or "gaalis," Ali clarified, 'Listen, to be honest, more than me, the other character actors were the ones who were using gaalis. In fact, in season 2, I didn't use a single gaali. But I just didn't need to—season 1 had enough of that. People didn't even realise.' On whether delivering such lines comes naturally to him, he laughed and said, 'Nahi aajati hai (laughs) abh mahaul hi aisa hai.
Itna kehna kaafi hai.'
A Defining Moment on Set
The actor recalled a memorable moment from the 'Mirzapur' set that he will always cherish. On his very first day of shooting a classroom scene at Gajomal College, he felt intense nervousness despite all his preparation. He wasn't sure if he was ready for the role or if he looked the part. To overcome his insecurity and appear more intimidating, he unconsciously changed his walk and posture. Ali explained, 'That posture, that vibe, it all came from that one moment.
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