When Mirzapur came to Ali Fazal, he was still finding his footing in Bollywood. The format was new. Web series were not yet the cultural force they would become. And the filmmakers around him had a simple message: do films, not this.
He did not listen.
“The filmmakers were telling me what was I doing. They said, ‘do films’,” Ali told PTI. “I saw this changing era of OTT and shows. I felt a revolution was about to come.”
That revolution arrived. And Ali Fazal arrived with it as Guddu Pandit, one of the most recognisable characters in Indian streaming history.
How he even got the role
Ali recently found out that his Fukrey director, Mrighdeep Singh Lamba, had recommended his name to the makers of Mirzapur. He was not aware of this at the time. The detail adds a layer of coincidence to a decision that turned out to define a significant part of his career.
He was scared going in, he admitted. The web series format was unfamiliar. The gritty world of Mirzapur was a departure from what he had done before. But the script, written by Puneet Krishna, was the deciding factor.
“The way the script was written by Puneet Krishna, the world he has made of Mirzapur, it was really commendable,” he said.
What Mirzapur became
Since its debut in 2018, Mirzapur has grown into one of India’s most successful web series. Set in the crime and political power structures of Uttar Pradesh, it ran for two seasons and built a fanbase that extends well beyond typical streaming audiences.
The show featured an ensemble cast including Pankaj Tripathi, Divyenndu, Shweta Tripathi, Rasika Dugal, Vijay Varma, Isha Talwar, Harshita Gaur, and Shriya Pilgaonkar. It made Guddu Pandit a household name and established Mirzapur as a franchise with genuine cultural weight.
Now it is going to the cinema
Mirzapur is now making the jump from screen to cinema hall. Ali Fazal described it as something that has not been done before in India.
“It’s the first time in India that a show is being transformed into a film. It’s a national-level experiment that we are doing. The story and the characters are all good. We are excited to share every promotional asset,” he said.
The official teaser for Mirzapur: The Movie was released earlier this week.
The cast of Mirzapur: The Movie
Ali Fazal returns as Guddu Pandit, the bodybuilder-turned-gangster at the centre of the story. Pankaj Tripathi and Divyenndu reprise their roles as Kaleen Bhaiya and Munna Tripathi respectively, both fan-favourite characters from the series.
The film introduces Jitendra Kumar as Bablu Pandit, a role played by Vikrant Massey in the first season. Ravi Kishan has also joined the cast in a significant role.
The film is described as exploring an untold chapter from the first season while continuing the larger story on a cinematic scale.
Mirzapur: The Movie is ready to release in theatres on September 4, 2026.