Ali Fazal addressed criticism over his limited role in Mani Ratnam's Thug Life, acknowledging much of his part was edited out. He also said that the film had an interesting character arc
Ali Fazal
Ali Fazal is an actor who has made his mark across various industries over the years. Whether it’s Hindi cinema, Hollywood, or the web series space, his presence has become quite inevitable. He was last seen on the big screen in Mani Ratnam’s Thug Life, which released in theatres in June. The film, which reunited Kamal Haasan and Ratnam, was among the most anticipated releases of the year. However, Ali Fazal’s presence in the revenge drama was minimal and failed to leave a strong impact.
Ali Fazal on Thug Life screentime
In a conversation during mid-day’s podcast series, The Bombay Film Story, Ali Fazal was asked about his limited screen time in the film, where he was reportedly on the antagonist’s side, seeking revenge. While the film largely received negative reviews and failed to impress audiences, Ali’s lack of screen time was also highlighted.
“I got a lot of flak,” says Fazal.
Speaking about his role, Ali explained, “I think a lot got edited. It was only meant to be 3–4 scenes. It was an interesting arc at the time, and I’m sure it went through hundreds of changes. I know I’m getting a lot of flak.”
But for Ali, what mattered most was the opportunity to work with legendary artists and take his first step into the Tamil film industry. “It’s Mani sir, Kamal Haasan, and A.R. Rahman. I’m a big Mani fan. It was a no-brainer at the time. I didn’t think about it. It was a small way to start, and I’m not new to that. I started with small roles in different industries,” he added.
Kamal Haasan praises Ali
Before the release of the film, at the audio launch event actor and filmmaker Kamal Haasan heaped praise on his Ali Fazal and called him a “very important actor for India.”
Speaking about his first impression of Ali, Kamal said that he became a fan of the actor after watching him in Vishal Bhardwaj’s espionage thriller Khufiya.
Haasan said, “I saw you in Vishal’s film (Khufiya) and I knew I wanted to work with you. And this man (Mani Ratnam) made it happen. Ali is a very important actor for India. So I want you to welcome me to Chennai and our cinema”.
Ali was moved by the gesture and said that it is a “dream come true”. “Getting a compliment like that from Kamal sir is something I will carry with me forever,” Ali said.
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
