Getting acting heavyweights like Pankaj Kapur, Naseeruddin Shah, Arvind Swami, Manoj Pahwa and Kumud Mishra in one room can be an uphill task. Anubhav Sinha is surprised that the stellar cast — which includes Vijay Varma, Dia Mirza and Patralekhaa — has come together for his maiden series, IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack. The upcoming thriller traces the 1999 hijacking of the Indian Airlines Flight 814, in which a group of militants hijacked the Delhi-bound aircraft carrying 173 passengers and flew to several locations before landing in Kandahar.

Sinha knew his working relationship with Kapur, developed on Dus (2005) and Bheed (2023), would give him an advantage. “Pankaj bhai said, ‘Main nahin karunga,’ but I knew he would,” says the filmmaker, who has co-created, co-written and directed the thriller. Despite his faith in the material, Sinha was skeptical about getting the nod from Shah and Swami. He was pleasantly surprised on both occasions.

“I had thought it would be difficult to cast Naseer bhai because he does less work and is more interested in doing theatre. I was halfway into proposing the role to him, and he said yes. As for Arvind, we got on a conference call, and he said, ‘Okay.’ But I was [still unsure] whether he was doing it. But how do you ask [again] if the person has said okay?” he laughs.

Varma, who plays the pilot flying the ill-fated aircraft, also said yes more easily than Sinha had assumed. The director recalls, “When he left [the meeting], I thought we’d send him the script, he would read it and tell us if he wanted to do it. But two hours later, they were already talking dates. I wasn’t on such terms with him that I could call and say, ‘Script toh bheji nahin maine!’”

When Netflix approached Sinha to retell the story of the Kandahar hijack, he realized he was unaware of many details of the chapter. That motivated the director to probe further.

“The plane landed in Kandahar on the morning of December 25, the Indian negotiation team reached on December 26. On a conversation level, you’d say, ‘Why did it take them [so long] to reach?’ But there was so much going on at home. [They] had to know what they could offer. There were moral, ethical and political questions that the government was dealing with.”

The series shows the attack could have been averted. So, have we learned from history? “The human mind doesn’t learn from history; we make it worse. Nine months after this, 9/11 happened. So, that was the time when militants were toying with the idea of using an aircraft as a weapon. So, one has to think ahead of them and make sure this doesn’t happen again. But [such events] are still happening.”

From playing the lead opposite actor Judi Dench in Victoria & Abdul (2017) to starring in the Fast & Furious franchise, actor Ali Fazal has made a mark for himself in international cinema. Recently, after his appearance in the Gerard Butler-starrer Kandahar, Fazal’s wife, actor Richa Chadha, penned an appreciation post for his performance and said, “Do I think he would be celebrated more if he was not an outsider? Absolutely!”

Ask if he echoes the sentiment and Fazal says, “Yes, sometimes I do feel that I might have to work twice as hard to be seen here [in India]. When I have to promote my international projects here, I have to go out of my way and hope that someone supports me. The last time I experienced this was while promoting Death On The Nile (2022).”

The 36-year-old admits that not being noticed enough as an outsider “used to affect” him, but not anymore. He adds, “At the time of Victoria & Abdul, I had no money to spend on PR, as it was expensive. I was at the mercy of the film studio. We’d not had an Indian actor play the lead role in a Hollywood film in a long time, so it was definitely a big deal. Last time, it was (late actor) Shashi Kapoor sahab in Shakespeare Wallah (1965). But since I couldn’t afford a PR, it acted as a reminder for me. Tab mujhe laga, agar mere paas paisa hota, toh I would have killed it [by doing proper PR for myself].”

The actor says he doesn’t believe in asking for favours. “We all have pride. So, I will never say, ‘Sir, ek tweet kar do’. I respect people who reach out and appreciate my work. Thankfully, there are some good people in the industry,” he ends.

To Ali Fazal, Kandahar will be a memorable project for many reasons, one of which is the unusual way in which it landed on his plate. The actor bagged the Gerard Butler-led spy thriller over an hour-long call with director Ric Roman Waugh.

“I thought it was a preliminary call before the reading session or the audition. We ended up talking for an hour. After the call, my manager told me that the director loved me and wanted me on board. I discovered later that this is his way to analyze an actor. I guess I was being auditioned without even knowing about it,” the actor laughs.

Fazal reached Saudi Arabia a week before the film rolled to prep for the action sequences. A chunk of his set-pieces, he says, involved dirt biking. “I had to learn dirt biking for the role. In a scene, I had to get the bike out of a van, ride it on the sand, then take a U-turn, go back, turn it around on the spot and then race back into the horizon. Doing it is dangerous because the sand is shifty. You need to use your arms to maintain balance,” he shares.

Kandahar marks Fazal’s fourth Hollywood film after Furious 7 (2015), Victoria & Abdul (2017), and Death on the Nile (2022). Starting out with a bit role in 3 Idiots (2009) to sharing screen space with Butler today, it has been a long but satisfying journey for Fazal, who believes he is finally being taken seriously as an artiste. But juggling Hollywood and Bollywood is proving to be tough.

“I’m thankful that I am getting nice roles and great stories. My only regret is not being able to juggle my time. I have been a little selective about my roles because of the [time crunch].”

Earlier this year, actor Ali Fazal confirmed that he is not a part of Fukrey 3 — a decision he calls his “biggest regret so far”. But, this isn’t the only film he had to turn down.

He tells us, “There was a project being helmed by Homi Adajania, one of my favourite directors. I’ve been a big fan of his work, but I couldn’t be a part of what he was making.”

The actor, who has made a mark in the West with projects Victoria & Abdul (2017), Death on the Nile (2022) and the recently release Kandahar — co-starring Gerard Butler — adds, “Half my time goes in Hollywood and the remaining I spend in India. It becomes a bit of a struggle when you’re alone, trying to dabble with these two industries. I wish I had a reference point... Maybe I should take advice from Priyanka Chopra (Jonas, actor)!”

Jonas, who he looks up to, has in the past spoken about struggling with the perception that she’d cater only to the south Asian audience and people outside of the diaspora may not be interested in watching her. Has he faced a similar struggle? The 36-year-old says it is the “obvious first thought” one would have when entering a new industry. “But, with time, the industry [in the West] has started to realize [that we can interest a larger audience] and evolve accordingly,” he says.

In fact, his character in Kandahar is quite fluid. “You won’t be able to tell if he’s from India or the subcontinent. He speaks four languages. That character could be anything. I’m glad these kind of characters are being written and I’m getting to play them,” says Fazal, who will be seen next in Vishal Bhardwaj’s OTT film, Khufiya.

First Rome, now Cannes, and finally London. Ali Fazal is on a whirlwind tour as he promotes his upcoming film, Kandahar, and he wouldn’t have it any other way. “I move to some press junkets in London next. It’s an exciting time. Kandahar is a big-ticket movie, and now, we are waiting for the audience’s nod,” he says, squeezing in a chat with us, in his hectic schedule.

Director Ric Roman Waugh, who has previously helmed Angel Has Fallen (2019), brings an action thriller with the Gerard Butler and Fazal-starrer. Kandahar, which releases in the US tomorrow, is another win for Fazal who has been steadily making inroads into the West since fronting Victoria & Abdul (2017).

In the past six years, he admits there has been a dynamic shift in the casting of actors. “Every role landed, every audition cracked proves that inclusion is actively practiced. Hollywood is not shying away from using people from across the globe. Actors can dive into any part, and geography shouldn’t stop us.”

Be it Priyanka Chopra Jonas leading Citadel, or Fazal playing a key role in the upcoming actioner, these are prime examples of how Hollywood is embracing inclusivity. Fazal says that with many stories being culturally agnostic, it enables the makers to cast actors from diverse countries, thus making colour-blind casting a common practice.

“Sometimes, specific roles are designed for a particular ethnicity. But in other cases, Hollywood’s colour-blind casting is the reason all of us can share notes [on our craft] on a global scale. [Such projects] open doors for talent from India to be highlighted. I’m happy to be a part of this change.”

What adds to his excitement is that Kandahar sees him attempt action again after Mirzapur. While the series is dominated by gore and violence, the film goes the slicker route — imagine adrenaline-pumping bike chases, and gun fights.

“Since Mirzapur, action has become a genre that I enjoy. Here, the sensibilities are different. We have the same makers [Thunder Road Pictures and Capstone] as the John Wick franchise. So, the action is slick, with lots of gun fights. We had suave action directors, and safety was their primary concern. The tougher the stunts, the more elaborate our safety manual was.”

When Ali Fazal guest starred in the Hollywood tentpole film, Furious 7 in 2015, he had his eyes set on an international career. Eight years, and two prominent English-language outings later, the actor is gearing up for his next big action spy thriller, Kandahar.

Fazal co-stars Hollywood A-lister Gerard Butler, who has also produced the film. Travis Fimmel, and Iranian-American actor Navid Negahban, known for 24 and Homeland, also feature in it.

The team’s first stop is the United States, where the film opens in 2000 screens later this month. Fazal says Kandahar has all the elements of a complete entertainer.

“I am very excited with this development. A release of this scale is massive, and being an action spy thriller, there is a wide audience for the film,” he says.

Directed by Ric Roman Waugh, of Felon and Snitch fame, Kandahar revolves around an undercover CIA agent (Butler), who is stuck in Afghanistan. Fazal has left for London to begin the promotions, following which the actor will head to Los Angeles in the second leg of the campaign.

The makers plan to release the film across the world, and are set to open it to Indian audiences in June. Post Kandahar, Fazal has Vishal Bhardwaj’s Khufiya opposite Tabu and Wamiqa Gabbi, later this year.

Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal’s wedding preps are in full swing. The quirky invites, which reflect the couple’s personalities, have been sent out. Apart from their friends and family, they have also invited Gerard Butler, Judi Dench and a few production members from Ali’s international projects. He has shared screen space with Butler in the Hollywood film Kandahar and had featured with Dench in Victoria & Abdul. A confirmation of their presence at the wedding is awaited. The couple will also participate in dance performances which have been kept as a surprise for each other.

Richa and Ali have opted for an eco-friendly wedding. We have learnt that they have roped in a food curator to ensure food is served in a manner that will ensure it isn’t wasted and is also convenient for the guests to walk around as they eat without lugging around hefty food plates.

A source says, “There will be minimal use of plates, cutlery and non-biodegradable stuff. The food has been curated in such a fashion that it requires minimal to no extra cutlery. They are skipping the typical elaborate buffet, but have a very cool way of serving everything from appetizers to mains to desserts in a pick-and-eat manner. For instance, if it’s rice and gravy, it will be served in a jar for a single portion size so people can pick it up and use a spoon while they hang around. It will be convenient for them as well. The theme at both Mumbai and Delhi celebrations will be sustainable and environmentally friendly. ”

The pre-wedding celebrations will take place at a venue near Delhi from September 29 to October 1. Ali and Richa will tie the knot on October 3 in Mumbai, which will be followed by a reception on October 4.

Elnaaz Norouzi is on a roll this year. The actress was first in the news when the release date of the second season of her international show Tehran, which she is a big part of, was announced. Later, there was a lot of buzz around her when speculations of her new Hollywood project started doing the rounds. Elnaaz has finally confirmed that she is a part of the international action drama Kandahar, which stars Gerard Butler in the lead.

Sharing her excitement about working on the project and with the Hollywood actor, she said, “I have always admired Gerard Butler’s work as an actor. I have seen all of his movies. Getting a chance to perform in a film with him was a defining moment for me. I had the best time working on Kandahar because it was one of those sets beaming with incredible energy. It was an enriching experience to shoot the film. I hope the audience enjoys my performance on screen.”

The film, directed by Ric Roman Waugh, is about an undercover CIA operative stuck in hostile territory in Afghanistan. Meanwhile, that’s not all for Elnaaz. She is also gearing up for the release of the second season of the Emmy Award-winning show Tehran, starring Glenn Close. In Bollywood, she has Sangeen with Nawazuddin Siddiqui in the pipeline, along with OM: The Battle Within and a special appearance in JugJugg Jeeyo.

It could be deemed a special week for Indian artistes. After the documentary Writing with Fire was nominated for the Oscars, Ali Fazal’s international project Death On The Nile releases today. When we connect with him shortly after the film’s London premiere, we obviously begin our chat with the long wait to the marquee. The release of the Agatha Christie adaptation, shot in late 2019, was held off due to the pandemic.

“When you wait so long, you get worried if people don’t like the film. I have watched the film at the premiere; my biggest takeaway is that it’s shot on a film camera, and is a spectacle. Kenneth [Branagh, actor-director] has managed to create the 1930s in an interesting way. My part was tailor-made. My character Uncle Andrew has been made younger; now, I play cousin to Gal Gadot’s Lynette. The plot is 80 years old, so Agatha fans know how it ends. That said, I hope they still enjoy how it unravels,” says Fazal.

As an ardent Agatha Christie fan, this is a special film for him. It’s also his widest release till date, the actor says, almost with a hint of disbelief. “We are releasing a record number of screens. 3300 in the US. Some 10,000 screens in China. More in Europe and Australia.”

The London premiere was extra special for the team, says Fazal. The team partied at the Egypt section of the British Museum, catching up with each other. “It was really posh, may I say. Some of our key cast couldn’t make it due to prior commitments, but for all of us who were there, we really had a swell time. We were chatting about scripts, stories and Oscar nominations. And just the next morning, Kenneth’s Belfast has 6 nominations. We were all so excited for him and it’s a great time for him to return with a bang! We got all sorts of reactions after the premiere. I got a lot of reactions from Academy members and people very sweetly texted. We are expecting all sorts of reactions.”

The mystery thriller boasts a diverse cast, consisting of Branagh, Gadot, Fazal, Russell Brand and Letitia Wright, among others. It speaks volumes about Hollywood’s endeavour to become inclusive. How does he perceive his role in paving the way for more south Asian actors to get leading parts in international movies? “For the longest time, I did not pay attention to my own work, instead humbling my way through it. But I’m glad I am a part of this door opening for the rest of the clan. Somebody had to go out there and land these parts. It is important that we all champion each other. I would be happy if five other Indians bag five more leading parts. That’s how we will get better stories out there. These are the few genres like whodunits and superhero films that commit to a geography. In this film, I play an English man. We aren’t preaching our ethnicity; we are blending into the narrative.” 

Over the years, Fazal has managed to balance his Bollywood and international commitments –where there’s Kandahar with Gerard Butler, there’s also Vishal Bhardwaj’s Khufiya and the next season of Mirzapur on home turf. “It really matters the kind of filmmakers you work with. For instance, Kandahar is helmed by Rick Roman Waugh who is known for his large scale films. He is all heart. He understands action so well. This movie is a global story. You know Kandahar from the name and with all the turmoil that the country is going through, it’s not one of those run-of-the-mill Uncle Sam saves the day kinda movies. I am so proud of it. Of course, it’s an action film that has all the adrenaline for the junkies but it has a strong narrative. I think with each story something shifts inside me. I see so much I want to tell as an actor. Time becomes a fight sometimes. When you have one in the West, you lose some work at home. But I want to balance this right. Humare ghar ki kitni kahaniya sunani hai. We are going through so much as a nation and as an artiste, I want to tell stories at a time like this. This tryst is what holds me back from pursuing Hollywood alone. There is a desire to do more and better. I am so excited to work with Vishal-ji again next week. They were really sweet to wait for Kandahar to get over. Vishal-ji is one director who pushed me out of my comfort zone. I like to be challenged, otherwise what’s predictable is also just as boring.”

Actor Ali Fazal is all set to take his next flight to Hollywood with Kandahar, co-starring actor Gerard Butler. And the Indian talent promises lots of action and drama in his next international outing.

The film is being helmed by Ric Roman Waugh, known for bringing alive varied stories on the big screen through projects such as Felon (2008), Angel Has Fallen (2019), Greenland (2020) and the upcoming film National Champions. They will start shooting in Saudi Arabia.

“It’s quite a pleasant outing after the pandemic. Also as actors, we are always looking to better ourselves with every passing prospect. I continue to find new spaces,” an excited Fazal tells us from Saudi Arabia.

The screenplay of the project is written by Mitchell LaFortune, who is looking deep into his own experiences as a military intelligence officer in Afghanistan at the time of the Edward Snowden leaks.

Opening up about the project, the 35-year-old says, “It has been a lot of prep work for me for the last one month and studying all the material Ric and Mitch have given me to work with. Ric is a visionary in all senses”.

The film captures the story of an undercover CIA operative, stuck deep in a hostile territory in Afghanistan, and his escape.

Fazal, who has made a name for himself in the international market with projects such as Victoria & Abdul (2017) and Death On The Nile, says the script is spectacular. “I am humbled to be sharing my notes with the very best in the field. It’s a whole lot of action and drama,” adds the actor, who can’t reveal much about the project at the moment, but promises it to come packed with lots of thrills.