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Ali Fazal on not being pressured into stereotypical roles

Ali Fazal is one actor that has pushed the boundaries in both Bollywood and Hollywood. Already receiving much acclaim for a whole host of versatile roles from both industries, the actor recently spoke to the media about not being pressured in being type-caste into a stereotypical role.

“When I was starting out, I was unaware of the industry norms and protocol. I was studying economics and doing theatre. I always knew there’s more to life, so I wasn’t bogged down by the barriers that came with growth, the trials and tribulations of being an actor. I was interested in everything. And it was the same with Hollywood,” Times of India reports the actor stating.

He went on to add, “Indians have mostly played Middle Eastern roles in the West, but even in that, I tried to break stereotypes. So what if the character was a Sultan (his first Hollywood appearance in ‘Fast & Furious 7’ (2015), he wasn’t dressed in those princely robes. It’s the 21st century. So, you bring in your own understanding of it.”

Despite being open to the roles he had been offered, his journey hasn’t come without it’s challenges. Talking about this, Fazal expressed how he has taken these hardships as a way to grow and develop his carft. “The challenges have been building blocks, perhaps a tad more democratic in the West, but they have always existed. I have known colleagues, especially in the West, who have faced a lot of stereotypes, too,” he explained.

“It’s always good to retain your identity and culture and merge it with wherever you are. As long as you are confident of your culture, it’s just a part you are playing. As actors, we are supposed to be moulded,” he signed off.

Fazal’s next big Hollywood project will see him in Kenneth Branagh’s ‘Death on the Nile’.