Shweta Tripathi and Ali Fazal with Indian Women cricketers Deepti Sharma (L) and Saima (R)

In Lucknow after a very long time, actor Ali Fazal of Mirzapur fame, was on his first visit to his hometown after the birth of his daughter, to promote women’s cricket. Ali and wife Richa Chadha welcomed their first child, a beautiful baby girl, on July 16 this year and the hands-on dad shared about his sleepless nights and more during a freewheeling chat with us. Read on…

Lucknow’s visit, especially the college part where I was promoting women’s cricket, was chaotic but in a good way. I have been living in a compartment life. When the current season of Mirzapur came, Richa and I were heavily pregnant so kahin nikanlna hi nahi hua. Suddenly I came to Lucknow and received so much love from the people here and I am like this is real.

Thank you! I can’t wait to go back to her. Even during my work, I keep thinking of her. I am little-little obsessed with her now, but a good obsession. The whole process of fatherhood has been a spiritual experience. There has been so much learning during the process and I can say that I have now become a peaceful person. Aap andar se sulajh jaate ho aur usey shabdon mein bayaan karna thoda mushkil hai. And yes, I have had my share of sleepless nights too.

Mirzapur Season 2 mein bhi yahi hua tha. I get very tired at the end of the Mirzapur shooting. People commented that it was stretched but mere dimaag mein hamesha aise hi rehta hai ki bhai ki kahaani khiche nahi. But at the end of the day it is part three of a web series which has become a beast of its own kind. I remember part one did so well, and then part two pe humein itni gaaliyaan padi thi. Personally, I thought the second season was more stretched than the third one. The best part about Mirzapur is that everyone now has their own versions and despite the mixed reviews, this season has broken all records for OTT viewing. I still remember that the critics had full on criticized us actors after the first season, they had finished our acting careers and I thought ki shayad career hi change karna padega ab.

Well, ab mujhe apni filmon pe dhyaan dena hai. I am very happy with the other work that his happening in my life. Sometimes it gets a little difficult for me to balance work outside India and here.

Frankly speaking, we are not able to understand the loyalty for the surety of viewers. Woh surety kahan hai? Sometimes a big spectacle film will work, sometimes a very good script which is mounted well will work. I myself being a producer now am confused. As much as the OTT has given me so much fame, love and another direction to my career, I still pray every Friday that the films releasing in theatres work. We are not seeing as many releases as they were before the pandemic because the makers are scared now. Audiences too, some have evolved some have receded in terms of viewing. These are funny times for the entertainment industry. The whole superhero game is getting washed out. We need good scripts and we need to start championing writers. It is time to get writers back on posters to sell content. Woh daur jab writers ke naam pe films bikengi, log theatres ki taraf bhagengey. Because of OTT, the level of playing in the entertainment field became equivalent to the rest of the world.

Supporting UP Warriors team has been a great addition to my journey. I am glad that I can come on board and support these wonderful women who play cricket.

No and that’s the reason why women cricket is suffering. Abhi jaake shuruaat hui hai…kitne saal baad. The mentality of boys to include girls while playing cricket or any other sports needs to be seeded into them via our education system. Yeh inclusivity aa gayi toh khel ho jayega.