Life can throw you surprises when you least expect them. Here was this young actor from Lucknow struggling to strike it big and then he gets picked for a small role in Hollywood action thriller Furious 7 (2015), and then comes the big break. Ali Fazal was cast for one of the leading roles in director Stephen Frears’s Victoria & Abdul. The film was premièred recently at the Venice film festival and it will travel to the UK and the US before it is released in India.
A few days before he left for the world première in Venice, Ali Fazal spoke exclusively with Cinestaan.com, sharing his thoughts about the film and how it was a dream come true to work with Academy award-winner Judi Dench. Dench is popular in India for being part of the James Bond franchise and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2012). She has also played queen Victoria before in a teleplay, Mrs Brown.
Expectedly, it was an enriching experience for Ali Fazal to work with the acclaimed British actress, but the Indian artiste also forged a friendly bond with the veteran. “Judi is fun to be with," Fazal said. "She is humorous, she is like a 16-year-old!”
Watch the full interview below.