Exclusive conversation: 'Death on the Nile' star Ali Fazal said - this is my biggest Hollywood release, I am lucky to have worked with big stars

Posted on 15th Feb 2022 by rohit kumar

Ali Fazal is also among those who worked in continuity in Hollywood films from India. He was seen in Hollywood's 'Victorio and Abdul', 'Fast and Furious 7'. Next, his 'Kandahar' and 'Codename: Johnny Walker' are about to be released and shot. These days his 'Death on the Nile' has been released in theaters.

 

It is based on a crime thriller written by the famous British novelist of its time, Agatha Christie. Ali plays a murder suspect Andrew Kachadurian in the film. In a conversation with Dainik Bhaskar, Ali has shared important things from Hollywood's functioning to his Indian projects. Read the excerpt of the conversation:-

 

What complements are you getting for Andrew?

I do not know how to beat my drum, but I am getting love from all over the world. This is my biggest Hollywood release. We have got a lot of screens in every country. That's because there are fans of Agatha Christie's stories all over the world. Now it has also taken the form of a big franchise. Had a cameo in 'Fast and Furious 7'. Here my role is full-blown, so I feel like a big stakeholder in it.

 

Agatha Christie's novels are epic. How much tinkering with them is the film made?

 

To the extent we can retain the essence of their stories, we don't change them. Even Betty Davis and Maggie Smith filmed the same story with the same title in the '70s. Here we have made some changes this time. My character was originally played by George Kennedy. There his character's name was Uncle Andrew. Here my character has been changed to Cousin Andrew that the age has come down. Playing the main lead actress Gal Gadot. There is a history to his character. Gal Gadot and my character have been cousins. I am his family lawyer. Then eight-nine people along with us are suspected in all the murders. Hercule Pyarro, who is the main detective, has got a lot of focus on his character. That's because his character is in charge of this franchise.

 

The character of the main detective Hercule Pyro has a special mustache. Why do they keep the same design? It is played by Kenneth Branagh?

The only reason it comes is that Hercule the beloved has been in the war. He has been a soldier. Once in a mine blast, the area under his nose exploded. To cover it, the design of his mustache has been kept the same. Incidentally, this region has been revealed in the film this time.

 

What revealed the vision of big actresses like Gal Gadot?

It was often a daily affair. We were so many actors together on the set itself. I used to observe everyone. His nuances are so strong because there is all sort of people out there. Russell Brand, Jennifer Saunders, Kenneth Branagh, everyone else are very great people. Kenneth Branagh's 'Belfast' has been nominated in seven Oscar categories this time. It is my good fortune that I got a chance to see the craft of masters like him from such close quarters.

 

Richa Chadha did Tigmanshu Dhulia's 'The Great Indian Murder'. You did 'Milan Talkies' with him. What do you think is the reason for not walking?

Tigmanshu sir has been my guru. Learned a lot from him. 'Milan Talkies' certainly didn't work at all. Although this story was very close to Sir. I think the marketing of this film may have been deceived. Or stumbled. Those must have been the reasons. The rest of that film will stay with me for the rest of my life. Now there is a new version of Tigmanshu sir from 'The Great Indian Murder'. I and Richa have done 'Fukrey' together, but I don't count that as our scenes together are less in it. He is in the role of a villain in it. Apart from this, if there is any other script offer, then we would like to do that.