Can’t play a cabbie or maharaja because it’s a good offer: Ali
Remember how Apu Nahasapeemapetilon aka Apu, in The Simpsons, faced flak for reinforcing South Asian stereotypes! The character’s silly accent voiced by another American artist didn’t help matters either. Even comedian Aziz Ansari’s Master of None highlighted the depiction of offensive stereotypes in Hollywood. While many feel things seem to be changing now, they admit these are baby steps. So Ali Fazal, who is working in that industry, says he has declined offers when he felt the role is quite ‘typical’.
“The idea is to stay away from such parts. I won’t deny being offered them now and then but I have never accepted these roles for this very reason… I can’t play a maharaja or cabbie because I am getting a good offer, there should be a reason to play such a character. And yes, I had to let go off good offers but I don’t regret doing that,” says the actor, who has been a part of the films Furious 7 (2015), Victoria & Abdul (2017) and will be seen next in the adaptation of Agatha Christie’s Death on the Nile, alongside Gal Gadot.
Content with his career graph, Ali feels South Asian stereotypes are changing for good. The reason for this, he believes, is the strong concern raised around such roles. “I think the audience is one of the major reason why this is happening. The realisation that South Asian-origin actors can’t be typecast or sidelined or can’t just be a part of a project because their presence must be shown in some way or the other, is slowly giving way to better parts,” says Ali, who goes on to talk about getting more offers from Hollywood.
Meanwhile, Ali has also signed another Hollywood project, a war biopic. Prod him about the film, Ali remains tight-lipped and all he reveals is that “it’s based on a book around the Iraq war and all”.
Back in India, Ali has an interesting line-up of projects including the second season of Mirzapur, Bhoot Police, a web project by Shashanka Ghosh and a short film by Pradeep Sarkar.
“It feels good when so much is happening. What else would an actor ask for? It’s really difficult to say no to good projects, be it here or abroad. I’d rather live on the sets than not get time to be part of interesting stories,” says the actor. And currently Ali, who is in the US busy with the Death On The Nile, says he has worked his dates in such a way that “once I get some time off, I will finish my Indian projects”.
It’s difficult to say no to good projects be it here or abroad. I’d rather live on the sets than not get time to be part of interesting stories.
ALI FAZAL ACTOR