Ali Fazal is an actor who works primarily in Hindi films and TV series. He made his screen debut with a small role in the film The Other End of the Line (2008) before appearing in the TV miniseries Bollywood Hero (2009). He had his first Hindi film release with a supporting role in 3 Idiots (2009), and went on to star in Always Kabhi Kabhi (2011), Baat Ban Gayi (2013), and Bobby Jasoos (2014). Greater success came for his roles in the comedies Fukrey (2013), Happy Bhag Jayegi (2016), and Fukrey Returns (2017). In an exclusive chat with Bollywood Bubble, Ali Fazal recalls working at a call centre and doing a marketing job before his acting career.
Ali Fazal On Beginning His Career At A Call Centre
Speaking of starting his career as a call centre executive, Ali Fazal elaborated, “Actually, the salary was quite good even back then. I mean, the call centre was like from Powai to SEEPZ—jeeps used to go full every day. I had gone for only a few days. I think I was told the salary was around 20k or something, but I couldn’t last. After 10–15 days, I was like a zombie, staying up all night. I was like, ‘Dude, I can’t do this.’ So I ran and I never went back.”
When asked why he took it then, the actor said, “I just wanted some extra money, some pocket money. I thought I’d manage college during the day, this job at night, but I just couldn’t do it. So that didn’t work out. Then I got a marketing job—sorry, a sales job at a store under a very high-end brand. And based on that offer letter, because that company owns a lot of big brands, you know, I can’t name the brand… I feel weird saying it, and I probably shouldn’t. But yeah, I remember I took that offer letter home and said, ‘This is my worth, guys. Look at this!’ But I never ended up joining, because the ad for that job showed people standing and working like that. And I thought, ‘What am I doing?.’”
Ali Fazal Recalls Being Pushed To Act
Concluding, Fazal said, “I don’t know, I guess I do have a knack for it. At the end of the day, we’re all in the business of selling stories, you know? But I never really did it… I mean, I did, and then this happened. You know, I’d start going in one direction, and something would push me toward acting. Then I’d start going in another direction, and something would pull me back. That’s destiny.”
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Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Ali Fazal Praises Wife Richa Chadha As He Reveals How Their Love Story Blossomed On The Sets Of Fukrey; Admits, “It Was A Yes From Both Ends”
