Ali Fazal on his Academy Award-winning co-star's love for India and the Hindi filmdom
Ali Fazal; (inset) Judi Dench
Ali Fazal; (inset) Judi Dench
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The last two months have been nothing short of a roller-coaster ride for Ali Fazal. Shortly after his cross-border romantic comedy Happy Bhag Jayegi hit theatres, he packed his bags and flew off to the UK, where he has been stationed ever since to shoot for Stephen Frears' Victoria and Abdul. Being part of a Hollywood film sure makes him proud, but what Ali is more excited is that he has Oscar winner Judi Dench as his co-star.
"It hasn't quite sunk in yet," he says. The unit recently wrapped up shooting in Osborne House, Isle of Wight in Southern UK (former Royal Palace). "Being a tourist is completely different from shooting here with the picture of the person you are playing hanging right in front of your eyes. The palace is gorgeous. There is a durbar hall, exactly like the ones we have in Indian palaces," he adds.
The actor admits he has read only a few pages of Shrabani Basu's Victoria And Abdul: The True Story Of The Queens' Closest Confidant on which the film is based. "I stopped consciously. I will read once I am through with the shoot. I have prepared extensively, studying everything from history to art and literature of that era. There is a
different kind of thrill in bringing alive a hushed-up story. Victoria and Abdul… it was a spiritual relationship. There is evidence of a romance too. Some feel it's platonic, but they were intimate as well, but not in a pervert way," he shares.
Off the set, Ali is a student taking notes from the locals. "Can you imagine sitting around people whose conversations start with 'When I was having tea with Robert De Niro'? When Judi or Michael Gambon (widely known for his role as professor Dumbledore in Harry Potter) talk of legends like Marlon Brando like they are regular people, I realise what I am into. But, they are grounded. I have found a great friend in Judi and I couldn't help, but fall in love with her," he says.
We have heard the unit is flying down to Agra in the first week of November. Ali confirms that, saying, "It's a seven-day schedule. Judi loves India and is curious about Bollywood. Since she has shot the The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011) and its sequel (2015) in India, she is aware of who's who. Industry gossip amuses her. She enjoys it."
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