Ali Fazal (born October 25, 1986) is an Indian actor and model who primarily works in Hindi cinema and television, as well as in international productions. He is best known for his roles in the Hindi film series Fukrey (2013–2023), his international appearances in films such as Furious 7 (2015), Victoria & Abdul (2017), and Death on the Nile (2022), and his starring role as Guddu Pandit in the Amazon Prime Video crime thriller series Mirzapur (2018–present).
Early Life and Education
Ali Fazal was born in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. He spent his early years living in various cities due to his parents' occupations. He attended The Doon School in Dehradun and then St. Xavier's College, Mumbai, where he pursued a degree in economics. During his time in college, he began participating in theatrical productions, which sparked his interest in acting.
Career
Fazal made his film debut with a small role in the 2008 English-language Indian film The Other End of the Line. He gained early recognition in Bollywood with his supporting role in the romantic comedy Always Kabhi Kabhi (2011), produced by Shah Rukh Khan's Red Chillies Entertainment.
His breakthrough role came in the 2013 buddy comedy film Fukrey, where his portrayal of Zafar brought him widespread attention. He reprised his role in the successful sequels Fukrey Returns (2017) and Fukrey 3 (2023).
Fazal's international career began with a cameo appearance in the American action film Furious 7 (2015). His first lead role in a Hollywood film was in Stephen Frears' 2017 biographical drama Victoria & Abdul, where he starred alongside Judi Dench as Abdul Karim. This role garnered him international acclaim. He subsequently appeared in Kenneth Branagh's mystery thriller Death on the Nile (2022), an adaptation of Agatha Christie's novel, and the action film Kandahar (2023) alongside Gerard Butler.
On the digital streaming platform, Fazal achieved significant popularity for his role as Guddu Pandit in the critically acclaimed Amazon Prime Video series Mirzapur, which premiered in 2018. The series has become one of India's most popular web shows.
Other notable works include:
- Khamoshiyan (2015)
- Happy Bhag Jayegi (2016)
- Milan Talkies (2019)
Personal Life
Ali Fazal is married to actress Richa Chadha. The couple had planned their wedding in 2020 but postponed it due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They officially married in 2022.