Tabla maestro Zakir Hussain passed away early Monday morning in San Fransico, US, confirmed family representative. The 73-year-old multiple Grammy Award winner died due to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis at 5.12 am. "I can confirm that Zakir passed away surrounded by family and loved ones at UCSF Parnassus," Hussain's family representative Jon Bleicher told mid day. He is survived by his wife, Antonia Minnecola; his daughters, Anisa Qureshi (her husband, Taylor Phillips, and their daughter, Zara) and Isabella Qureshi; his brothers, Taufiq Qureshi and Fazal Qureshi; and his sister, Khurshid Aulia. Zakir Hussain's family issues official statement The family's official statement read, "He leaves behind an extraordinary legacy cherished by countless music lovers around the globe, with an influence that will resonate for generations to come. His prolific work as a teacher, mentor and educator has left an indelible mark on countless musicians. He hoped to inspire the next generation to go further. The family requests privacy at this time." Hussain was admitted to the hospital last week. His health remained critical through Sunday night. While several news outlets and government handles claimed at night itself that the maestro had passed away, his sister Khurshid had spoken to mid-day that he was alive till he was breathing. Hussain's historical collaborations Widely considered a chief architect of the contemporary world music movement, Zakir Hussain’s contributions were uniquely transformative. His unique mastery of rhythm allowed him to cross borders freely and create authentic connection between different genres of music. He participated in many historic collaborations, including Shakti (which he founded with John McLaughlin and L. Shankar), Remember Shakti, Making Music, The Diga Rhythm Band, Planet Drum and Global Drum Project with Mickey Hart, Tabla Beat Science, and Sangam with Charles Lloyd and Eric Harland. His performances and recordings include collaborations with artists as diverse as George Harrison, Yo-Yo Ma, Joe Henderson, Van Morrison, Airto Moreira, Pharoah Sanders, Billy Cobham, Alonzo King, Mark Morris, Rennie Harris and the Kodo drummers. His extraordinary contributions to the music world were honored in April 2009 with four widely heralded, sold-out concerts at Carnegie Hall’s Artist Perspective series. Globally recognised legend Zakir Hussain’s extraordinary global impact was recognized with the highest honors that can be given in the world of music. His contributions “to the cultural and spiritual betterment of mankind”, were acknowledged in 2022 with his awarding of the Kyoto Prize. In India, he received the Padma Vibhushan, the Padma Bhushan and the Padma Shri. He was also a recipient of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, India’s most prestigious honor for performing artists, and later the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship, a lifetime honor awarded to only 40 artists at a time. Artists mourn the loss of a legend Condolences have been pouring in since last night. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, actors Amitabh Bachchan and Kamal Haasan, music maestro AR Rahman mourned the demise of the tabla legend. Deeply saddened by the passing of the legendary tabla maestro, Ustad Zakir Hussain Ji. He will be remembered as a true genius who revolutionized the world of Indian classical music. He also brought the tabla to the global stage, captivating millions with his unparalleled rhythm.… — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 16, 2024 T 5224 - .. a very sad day ..😥 — Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) December 15, 2024 T 5224 - .. a very sad day ..😥 — Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) December 15, 2024 His prolific work as a teacher, mentor and educator has left an indelible mark on countless musicians. He hoped to inspire the next generation to go further, his family said in their statement.
16 December,2024 01:02 PM IST | Mumbai | Priyanka SharmaBollywood actor Tiger Shroff, who is known for adrenaline-rushing action sequences, has revealed that he does not like to fight. Tiger took to Instagram, where he shared a behind-the-scenes of a film. The actor revealed it was a rehearsal, but did not share what film it was from. For the background score, Tiger chose Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso” for the video. “Dont really like to fight…especially when its someone as fast or faster, so i try to visualize a song and make the choreo easy and fun to rem #bts #rehearsal (sic),” he wrote as the caption. Tiger’s mother Ayesha Shroff turned cheerleader for the actor hero in the comment section and wrote: “No one can do what you do!!! And that’s a fact.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tiger Shroff (@tigerjackieshroff) Tiger will next be seen in the fourth installment of the “Baaghi” franchise.The film also stars Sonam Bajwa and Harnaaz Sandhu, the winner of the Miss Universe 2021 beauty pageant, who is all set to make her debut in Hindi cinema. It was on November 18, Tiger announced the fourth installment of his “Baaghi” franchise, which will be directed by A. Harsha. The film is set to hit the screens on September 5, 2025. An action thriller, “Baaghi”, was first released in 2016 and was directed by Sabbir Khan. A partial remake of the 2004 Telugu film “Varsham” with a climax inspired by the 2011 Indonesian film “The Raid: Redemption”. The film had Tiger, Shraddha Kapoor and Sudheer Babu. The second installment, which was directed by Ahmed Khan, released in 2018. It was a remake of the Telugu film “Kshanam”. The second installment had Tiger alongside Disha Patani, Manoj Bajpayee, Darshan Kumar, Prateik Babbar, Randeep Hooda, Deepak Dobriyal and Arravya Sharma. “Baaghi 3” was again directed by Ahmed Khan, was partially inspired from Tamil film Vettai, stars Tiger Shroff, Riteish Deshmukh and Shraddha Kapoor in lead roles. A Sajid Nadiadwala franchise, under Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment banner, the film is set to release on September 5, 2025. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
16 December,2024 12:58 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSThe legendary tabla maestro Zakir Hussain passed away on Monday morning, leaving an irreplaceable void in the hearts of music lovers. It was in the 1980s when the legendary artist became the face of Taj Mahal Tea through a series of memorable TV commercials. These ads portrayed him in ethnic wear, playing tabla and moving his hair; all the ads used to end with the famous tagline, “Wah Taj!” Though these commercials solidified his place as a household name, this came at the cost of a very weird commitment. Zakir Hussain was not allowed to cut his long hair Did you know Zakir Hussain was not allowed to cut his long hair because of a clause in his contract with the tea brand? Yes, you read that right. Zakir Hussain was not allowed to cut his long hair as part of his deal with the Taj brand. It was Hussain, who humorously revealed this information, and had shared, "I couldn’t showcase my musical skills in 30 seconds, but I could make my hair move! I’m still their goodwill ambassador, and I’m not allowed to cut my hair, even though it’s falling out." Story of Zakir’s long hair Another story connected to his hair was that he didn’t grow it because he liked it, but because he didn’t have money to cut it. “When I first went to the U.S., I had short hair, but I noticed hippies with long hair. I couldn’t afford haircuts, earning just $25 a week during my first year in college, so I let it grow. I was also inspired by other artists in the rock ‘n’ roll group Shanti, where I performed,” he had once shared. About Zakir Hussain’s demise Legendary tabla maestro and composer Zakir Hussain passed away at the age of 73. Hussain was hospitalized in the U.S. and was undergoing treatment for a serious health ailment. He was admitted to the ICU after experiencing a heart-related problem. This morning, the family of the legendary artist confirmed the news of his demise. But last night, rumors of Zakir Hussain’s death set the internet ablaze, with high-profile celebrities including Ranveer Singh, Kareena Kapoor, Riteish Deshmukh, and others mourning his death before he actually passed away. The news of his demise came shortly after the announcement of his Indian tour. The Grammy Award-winning Zakir Hussain, along with Béla Fleck, Edgar Meyer, and Rakesh Chaurasia, was set to embark on their As We Speak India tour in January 2025.
16 December,2024 12:55 PM IST | MumbaiWorking with Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan is a dream for many in the entertainment industry. Interestingly, a couple of months ago, supermodel Alicia Kaur was fortunate enough to land the opportunity to work with King Khan for a TV commercial. In a recent interview with ANI, Alicia, a well-established figure on the runway, shared her reaction upon being offered the chance to share screen space with SRK in an advertisement. She admitted to "freaking out," thanks to Shah Rukh's timeless charm. "Oh, my God. He's brilliant and so humble. He's such a nice guy... This shoot came together at the last minute because Shah Rukh only had one day free. On Monday, I got a message saying, 'Hey Alicia, just send us some recent snapshots of your face to check your current hair look.' By Tuesday, I was told, 'You're doing a TV commercial tomorrow.' It was for a phone company, and they said, 'You'll be working with SRK.' I was like, okay, who's SRK? I asked the agency, 'What's SRK?' They replied, 'It's Shah Rukh Khan.' They explained that the ad involved me and Shah Rukh Khan chasing each other around town, taking photos of each other," she recalled. "I couldn't believe it. I was like, what is happening? I didn't even have to audition for this. I had no contact with the director, producer, or production team. They just decided Alicia could do it. Oh my God, my life turned upside down. I called my best friend in India and told her I was going to meet Shah Rukh Khan. I read the brief and freaked out. It was incredible. I'm so grateful for this opportunity," she said, beaming with excitement. It turned out to be a truly memorable experience for Alicia. Describing SRK as a "funny guy," she further recalled, "Shah Rukh shot in the studio with a green screen setup... and then there was his body double for the outdoor shoots. He's so much fun and very charming." In January, Alicia shared a video of her ad with SRK on Instagram, expressing how she felt like "the luckiest girl in the world." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Alicia Kaur (@alicia_kaur) "My recent ad for @realmeindia with the one and only SRK @iamsrk - it was such an honour to work with such a legendary actor. Dreams come true in Bollywood. I have to say this is one of the coolest experiences I've ever had, thanks to the amazing team and the beautiful locations we got to visit during the shoot! From Mumbai to Johannesburg to Cape Town... it was so much fun, and the final ad looks FAB!! I feel like the luckiest girl in the world," she posted. Not just with Shah Rukh, Alicia recently had another notable collaboration, walking the ramp with Bollywood star Sidharth Malhotra for Shantanu Nikhil's fashion show in Delhi. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
16 December,2024 12:45 PM IST | Mumbai | ANITV actor Chahatt Khanna, best known for her role in 'Bade Acche Lagte Hain', is currently vacationing in Dubai with her beau Rohan Gandotra. She took to her social media handle and shared some stunning pictured from her vacation. She also attended the launch of actor Karan Wahi's restaurant 'Slay'. While Chahat has not made her relationship with Rohan Gandotra official, but her frequent holiday trips with Rohan and public appearances hint towards their relationship. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Chahatt khanna (@chahattkhanna) Reflecting on her Dubai getaway, Chaahat Khanna shared "Well, this was indeed a much-needed vacation for both of us. Its been a busy state of affairs for both Rohan and I professionally and henceforth, this trip was needed indeed. Time truly flies when you are around your favourites and that’s perhaps the best way to describe this vacation. Loving every bit of it.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Chahatt khanna (@chahattkhanna) Chaahat who was away from television for almost ten years will soon be making her comeback with a new TV show. However the name of TV show has not been disclosed yet. Chaahat Khanna made headlines previously when she bravely shared a shocking experience from her past. The actress revealed that her ex-husband, Farhan Mirza, had forced her to convert into Islam. She was brainwashed into abandoning her Hindu faith and prohibiting her from worshiping her deity. Following her divorce, Chaahat made a home coming and proudly converted back to Hinduism. Chahat Khaana who has a long career in television first appeared in Tv show ‘Hero-Bhakti Hi Shakti Hai’. She went on to work in multiple shows like ‘Kumkum-Ek Pyaara Sa Bandhan’, ‘Kajjal’, ‘Bade Acche Lagte Hain’, ‘Qubool’ and many more. She also appeared in many commercials and films. Her latest film was ‘Yaatris’ which released in 2023. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
16 December,2024 12:44 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSUstad Zakir Hussain, the world-renowned tabla maestro, passed away today, Monday, December 16. His death left the entire world in a state of shock. As the world heard the heartbreaking news of Hussain's demise, celebs started extending condolences. Amid this, a clip of Ustad Hussain playing tabla is going viral. It is not just another clip; this video is from Dev Patel’s directorial debut, Monkey Man, showcasing Hussain’s genius. Tabla x Boxing jugalbandi The genius of Ustad Zakir Hussain in this iconic scene from Monkey Man.Farewell #ZakirHussain 🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/4lwI7MJcLm — Johns (@JohnyBravo183) December 15, 2024 Zakir Hussain’s video from Monkey Man goes viral The clip shows Dev Patel's character practising boxing on a punching bag as the legendary artist mesmerizes with his tabla rhythm, matching the punches. The clip then has the maestro raising the tempo as he challenges Patel's character's potential. As this clip goes viral, fans started hailing the late artist for his excellence. One wrote, "Only Ustad Zakir Hussain could've turned an action movie scene into a concert!" "The genius of Ustad Zakir Hussain in this iconic scene from Monkey Man. Farewell #ZakirHussain," another wrote. A third fan said, "Need full video, why isn’t this released in India?" About Zakir Hussain’s demise Legendary tabla maestro and composer Zakir Hussain passed away at the age of 73. Hussain was hospitalised in the U.S. and was undergoing treatment for a serious health ailment. He was admitted to the ICU after experiencing a heart-related problem. This morning, the family of the legendary artist confirmed the news of his demise. But last night, rumours of Zakir Hussain’s death set the internet ablaze, with high-profile celebrities including Ranveer Singh, Kareena Kapoor, Riteish Deshmukh, and others mourning his death before he actually passed away. Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh took to his Instagram, shared a post of the legendary artist playing the tabla, and added a folded-hands emoji in the caption. Sonu Nigam, who was heartbroken by the news, posted a black-and-white picture with the words, “Zakir bhai… What is this?” written on it. The news of his demise came shortly after the announcement of his Indian tour. The Grammy Award-winning Zakir Hussain, along with Béla Fleck, Edgar Meyer, and Rakesh Chaurasia, was set to embark on their As We Speak India tour in January 2025.
16 December,2024 11:18 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentLegendary tabla maestro and composer Zakir Hussain passed away at the age of 73. Hussain was hospitalized in the U.S. and was undergoing treatment for a serious health ailment. He was admitted to the ICU after experiencing a heart-related problem. This morning, the family of the legendary artist confirmed the news of his demise. But last night, rumours of Zakir Hussain's death set the internet ablaze, with high-profile celebrities including Ranveer Singh, Kareena Kapoor, Riteish Deshmukh, and others mourning his death before he actually passed away. Condolences pour in for Zakir Hussain Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh took to his Instagram, shared a post of the legendary artist playing the tabla, and added a folded-hands emoji in the caption. Sonu Nigam, who was heartbroken by the news, posted a black-and-white picture with the words, “Zakir bhai… What is this?” written on it. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ranveer Singh (@ranveersingh) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sonu Nigam (@sonunigamofficial) Kareena Kapoor also took to her Instagram and shared a picture of herself with her father Randhir Kapoor and the tabla maestro and wrote, “Maestro, Forever”. Bhumi Pednekar also posted an old photo of Zakir on Instagram. She captioned the post, "Maestro (white heart emoji). His rhythm will echo in our hearts forever (broken heart and folded hands emojis) #zakirhussain." Ricky Kej also remembered Zakir through a heartfelt post and wrote, "One of the greatest musicians and personalities India has ever produced. Along with being the best himself, Zakirji was known for...being responsible for the careers of numerous musicians, who are now forces to reckon with themselves. He was a treasure trove of skill and knowledge and always shared and encouraged the entire music community through collaborations and his actions. His legacy will live on forever, and his influence will be felt for generations. He left us too soon" View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bhumi Pednekar (@bhumipednekar) While calling Zakir's demise an 'irreparable loss', Riteish Deshmukh wrote, "The irreparable loss of Zakir Hussain Sahab is a devastating blow to India and the global music community. Sir, Your music was a gift, a treasure that will continue to inspire and uplift generations to come. Your legacy will live on. May your soul rest in eternal glory, surrounded by the rhythms and melodies. Condolences to the family and loved ones of the legendary Zakir Hussain Sahab." The irreparable loss of Zakir Hussain Sahab is a devastating blow to India and the global music community.Sir, Your music was a gift, a treasure that will continue to inspire and uplift generations to come.Your legacy will live on. May your soul rest in eternal glory,… pic.twitter.com/UtH8OUKKtX — Riteish Deshmukh (@Riteishd) December 15, 2024 Renuka Shahane, Shweta Tiwari, Anupam Kher and many others extended their condolences as Zakir Khan died. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Anupam Kher (@anupampkher) Zakir Hussain was set to embark on India tour The news of his demise came shortly after the announcement of his Indian tour. The Grammy Award-winning Zakir Hussain, along with Béla Fleck, Edgar Meyer, and Rakesh Chaurasia, was set to embark on their As We Speak India tour in January 2025.
16 December,2024 08:56 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentTHOSE magical fingers inspired thousands of young Indians to take up the tabla, and his brilliance and stage persona made him a favourite among serious listeners. For years, Ustad Zakir Hussain remained not only one of the most popular artistes of his generation, but also an ambassador of Indian music on the global arena. Hussain, who passed away at 73 in San Francisco due to complications arising out of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, leaves behind a rich and magnificent legacy, and an ocean of memories. Whether one knew him personally, saw him in concert or just listened to his recordings, there was something special about the maestro. It wasn’t only in the music, but also the way he conducted himself, greeting everyone warmly irrespective of their age or status. His bouncing hair, sartorial sense and quick wit added to the aura, and his appearance in the Taj Mahal tea ad campaign made him a household name. The son of tabla legend Ustad Allarakha, Hussain represented the Punjab gharana of tabla-playing. He was born in Mumbai on March 9, 1951, and would accompany his father to concerts from a very young age. A child prodigy, he started touring when he was 12. While he initially focused on classical music, he was exposed to international sounds on his visits to the US in the late 1960s. His meeting with British guitarist John McLaughlin, violinist L. Shankar and ghatam exponent Vikku Vinayakram led to the formation of the Indo-fusion group Shakti, and he also recorded with George Harrison in the 1973 album Living In The Material World.Known to maintain a balance between traditional music and experimentation, Hussain has accompanied the who’s who of Indian classical music over the past five decades. The list includes sitar legends Pandit Ravi Shankar and Ustad Vilayat Khan, sarod masters Ustad Ali Akbar Khan and Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, santoor monarch Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, flautist Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia and vocalists Pandit Jasraj and Kishori Amonkar. He also played with Kathak doyen Pandit Birju Maharaj and thumri queen Shobha Gurtu. Hussain’s friendship with McLaughlin has lasted over 55 years. “Meeting John Ji was a pivotal moment. It was indeed the time everything changed going forward for me,” he told this writer in an interview. The two have been together over changing Shakti line-ups, besides collaborating on other albums like Making Music, also featuring Chaurasia and saxophonist Jan Garbarek. Earlier this year, the Shakti album This Moment picked up the Grammy award for Best Global Music Album, and Hussain himself won Grammys for the album As We Speak, featuring banjo player Bela Fleck, bassist Edgar Meyer and flautist Rakesh Chaurasia. Other international musicians to have partnered with Hussain include drummer Mickey Hart, saxophonists Charles Lloyd, Chris Potter and George Brooks, and bassist Dave Holland. He has also composed two concertos for the Symphony Orchestra of India – a tabla concerto and a triple concerti for tabla, sitar and flute. Another pet project was Tabla Beat Science with producer Bill Laswell, where he blended electronic flavours with tabla rhythms. He’s acted in James Ivory’s film Heat And Dust (1983) and Sai Paranjpye’s Saaz (1987), besides composing music for Aparna Sen’s Mr And Mrs Iyer in 2002. Though Hussain grew up in an era which had other great tabla players like Anindo Chatterjee, Swapan Chaudhuri, Kumar Bose and the late Shafaat Ahmed Khan, he created new audiences through his innovations and collaborations. Each year, he has given many memorable concerts in Mumbai. His appearances at the Homage to Abbaji show on February 3, the Jennifer Kapoor Birthday Concert on February 28 and the Gurupoornima event have been cherished by fans. As Hussain’s music will live on forever, his warmth and charm will be missed by all those whose lives he touched. Hussain is survived by his wife Antonia Minnecola, and daughters Anisa and Isabella Qureshi. His brothers Fazal Qureshi, who trains tabla students at the Allarakha Institute of Music in Mumbai, and Taufiq, who has mastered the djembe, carry the family tradition forward.
16 December,2024 08:10 AM IST | Mumbai | Narendra KusnurFor Sonu Sood’s Fateh, Grammy-nominated vocalist Loire Cotler, known for her work on Dune, has composed an original track titled Call to life. It was Sood who had approached the musician, a member of Hans Zimmer‘s band, to craft the track for his directorial debut. “When Sonu contacted me, I felt a sense of connection and synergy with his artistry and the storyline. In this world of technology, cybercrime is a relevant topic. He explained the scene, emotion, and rhythm, and through those conversations, I was directed into the character-sound that he was looking for,” says Cotler. Loire Cotler composed Call to life for Sonu Sood’s Cotler is no stranger to Indian music. “Even though I don’t speak the language, I feel connected with the culture and musicians of India. I have a background in singing vocal percussion [belonging to] India. I’ve been studying the drum language from India for over 20 years, and some people in the world know me more for my work in the drum language from India. My devotion to the music from India goes back several years, and knowing the language was not needed for this collaboration because it was all about the emotions. Sonu wanted me to utilise my voice and composition to [evoke] emotions. Sure, words are beautiful and powerful. But, [here] there’s space for music that’s beyond words. When we bring the intimacy of the human voice into a space [that’s not restricted] by words, we feel a deep sense of connection.” Ask her if she has any upcoming project in India, and she says, “I might wake up tomorrow and there might be something that comes my way, but I don’t have goals. I allow the universe to provide them. And then, I’m grateful for every moment.”
16 December,2024 07:45 AM IST | Mumbai | Sonia LullaDirector Ananth Mahadevan’s next, Past Tense, sees father-son Paresh Rawal and Aditya Rawal share screen space for the first time. What makes their on-screen dynamics interesting is that they play two strangers confronting each other in the human drama. The director says that he had gone to narrate the script to Paresh at home, when he met Aditya. “As I started conversing with Aditya, I realised he was the perfect fit for Past Tense. Rarely do you find an actor so sensitive to his socio-economic environment, and having cinematic sensibilities,” says Mahadevan of the actor, who was last seen in Bambai Meri Jaan (2023). Inspired by a real-life episode, Past Tense revolves around a young man, who lives with his adoptive parents and is consumed by the desire to know why his biological parents abandoned him. “The newspapers had reported about this boy, who had discovered that he was abandoned by his biological parents [and set out to find them]. The media reports didn’t go that deep, but I took it beyond the abandonment and discovery. It’s a mistake he makes because sometimes the truth can hit you so badly that you wish you had never sought it,” shares the director. While Aditya plays the protagonist, Paresh essays one of the five pivotal characters he meets on his journey. Mahadevan says the two actors had to undergo workshops to slip into their roles. “Their chemistry was intriguing to watch. They had to shed the father-son mindset. Since it was the first time they were acting together, it must have taken them a lot of energy to assume their volatile parts.” The film also stars Adil Hussain and Sharib Hashmi.
16 December,2024 07:42 AM IST | Mumbai | Upala KBRIn October, the makers of Mirzapur did something that hadn’t been done before in Indian entertainment—they decided to turn their popular web series into a movie. The gamble appears to have paid off. Fans are eagerly awaiting Mirzapur—The Film, ready to see Pankaj Tripathi, Ali Fazal, Divyenndu and Abhishek Banerjee’s characters create mayhem on the big screen. Why now, after three successful seasons? That’s where we start our chat with Fazal, who will reprise his role of Guddu bhaiyya in the Gurmmeet Singh-directed film. “The idea is to take it to the people whose story it is. There are many who aren’t fully tuned into OTT,” he reasons. Creator Puneet Krishnan’s crime drama, which premièred in 2017, depicts the power tussle between gangs in Uttar Pradesh, with Tripathi’s Kaleen bhaiyya’s domination challenged by Fazal’s Guddu bhaiyya. Fazal believes it resonated with the audience because it was one of the few series telling stories of the soil. “We talk so much about stories of the grassroots, but we don’t make them well. This is that one story. It connects with people because it could be a story from your neighbourhood, of people who have been pushed to the wall. This was the first time OTT dived into the depths of our country. Films did that a lot in the ’90s, but Mirzapur connected viewers with the people from the nooks and alleys of the country. It filled up a void [that had opened up] in the decade before that,” he states. Fazal points out that his ‘angry young man’ role has been inspired by the heroes of the ’80s. “The angry young man always starts with being unaware of the workings of society, but [feels] the trickle effect of power as it is always felt first by the lowest of the lows. Mirzapur is an extreme version of that, with two brothers in college deciding to break that trap of status. Guddu bhaiyya’s swagger is a front that stems from the desperation of our youth, who want to be seen. Mirzapur talks to young men and women, who want to be validated by their parents and society.” He still considers it a stroke of luck to be selected for the role, considering he had done light-hearted roles in Fukrey and Happy Bhag Jayegi (2016) until then. “I don’t know how I was the choice for this character, who is nothing like me,” he grins.
16 December,2024 07:36 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar BasuADVERTISEMENT
