Indian actor Ali Fazal, known for his roles in Hollywood films such as Victoria & Abdul alongside Dame Judi Dench, Furious 7 with Vin Diesel, and the action thriller Kandahar starring Gerard Butler, has revealed that his most memorable encounter was with his cinematic idol, Al Pacino. In a recent interview, Fazal admitted to being completely awestruck upon meeting the Hollywood legend.
A Chance Encounter in London
Fazal recounted the experience, which took place while he was in London shooting for the 2022 film Death on the Nile. He had mixed up the dates for the premiere of The Irishman and realized just 20 minutes before the event began. Rushing to the venue, he said, “I couldn’t get a cab but luckily, it was in the vicinity. I wore my suit, and I ran.”
Making it inside just in time, Fazal headed straight to the bar for water. “I stop there, I turn to my right, and he’s [Pacino's] right in front of me. He’s just looking at me, smiling,” the actor recalled. This was the first time Fazal had ever been truly starstruck, despite working with numerous A-list celebrities.
A Fan, Not a Co-Star
Fazal emphasized that the interaction was different from working with other stars. “When you’re working with somebody, it’s fine, it’s enriching. It’s like, ‘This is me, and I take whatever you’re going to give.’ But here, I wasn’t working with him. I was just a fan,” he said. During their conversation, Fazal discussed Pacino’s theatre work, noting that Pacino is a big champion of Shakespeare and has a substantial body of work beyond cinema. Pacino reacted with enthusiasm, saying, “Oh!” according to Fazal.
An Encyclopedia of Pacino Trivia
Fazal joked that he is like an encyclopedia on Pacino, often dominating trivia games with friends. “I used to talk about all the things that he had gone through, like the number of auditions Pacino had done for The Godfather. I was really obsessed with him,” he shared.
Recent Work: Raakh
Fazal recently starred in the investigative crime thriller series Raakh. In the eight-episode drama, he plays Sub-Inspector Jayprakash, a police officer investigating the disappearance and murder of two teenagers in 1978 Delhi. The series has been praised for its gripping narrative and Fazal’s performance.
