ALI FAZAL BULKING UP FOR NEW ROLE

Actor Ali Fazal, who stars in the movie Victoria and Abdul opposite Dame Judi Dench, plays the role of a gangster in his next, Mirzapur. And the script requires him to bulk up. Currently, Ali sports a lean, fit look, and has taken up the challenge of undergoing physical transformation to fit the bill. In order to not waste any time before the shooting begins, the actor has already started bulking up. “Every character demands something and for this one, I need to have a certain body frame,” says the actor. “I have been working out for this (movie) to make sure that I get into the right shape. I kept my diet strict and worked out rigorously every day, spent good amount of time in the gym even if I was in some other place geographically,” says Ali. The actor says that he made sure that he balanced his diet and workout well before the film, produced by Ritish Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar, goes on floors. A source close to the actor reveals, “Ali has been quite religious with his workout and used to make sure that he spends good amount of time in the gym. Even pre or post his events and interviews, he kept a strict diet for himself for this particular role. Ali did not want to waste any time because he knows that undergoing physical transformation can take time.”

Every character demands something and for this one, I need to have a certain body frame ALI FAZAL, ACTOR

Singer Nakash Aziz, who has sung hits such as Jabra Fan (Fan; 2015) and Naach Meri Jaan (Tubelight; 2017) has been in the industry for almost seven years. He reveals that though he has no complaints with how his career has shaped up, there have been times when his work didn’t find its way into films. “I have sung for both small and big-budget films. But still, there’s no certainty over what’s coming next. Kuch songs films mein aate hain, kuch nahi aate hain. Aaj Ki Party (Bajrangi Bhaijaan; 2015) originally scratch maine gaya tha but baad mein phir Mika Singh ne gaya. Similarly, I had originally sung Dil Cheez Tujhe De Di (Airlift; 2016). Ankit (Tiwari, the music director) said that he liked it in the beginning but I don’t know why baad mein change kar diya.” The film had the version sung by Ankit and Arijit Singh. But the 32-year old musician doesn’t feel disheartened about this. “I used to feel bad earlier but now I am not affected by this. I will put in the same amount of hard work in every song of mine.” While he has had the opportunity of having sung for the two mighty Khans Salman and Shah Rukh, he says that it doesn’t matter on whom the song is filmed or picturised. “Not just Shah Rukh, even if I was singing for Tusshar Kapoor, I will put in the same amount of dedication,” adds Nakash.

PHOTO: JEAN-CHRISTOPHE MAGNENET/AFP