EXCLUSIVE: “The Word ‘Struggle’ Is So Demonized, It Should Be Normal” – Says Ali Fazal
When it comes to charm, talent, and honesty, Ali Fazal always brings his A-game. In a recent candid chat with Instant Bollywood, the Metro In Dino actor opened up about his early days, dealing with rejections, and how the word struggle needs a serious image makeover.
EXCLUSIVE: “The Word ‘Struggle’ Is So Demonized” – Says Ali Fazal
Ali, who’s known for his powerful performances both in India and abroad, spoke with refreshing honesty about his journey and how he’s never been one to dramatize the rough patches. Talking about his early days in the industry, he recalled –
“The auditions phase was good. A bit democratic. I think the caring for it came much later. Back then, I had a very careless attitude, so it didn’t really hit me hard, because I was also doing stage work alongside. And my studies were important to me, at least until college.”
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For Ali, theatre gave him a sense of grounding, and academics kept him balanced. The seriousness of ‘making it’ hit him much later. Until then, he simply kept showing up, doing the work, and learning with each step.
Naturally, the question of rejection popped up. Did he ever get turned away at auditions?
“Yeah, everyone has. Later, people would say, ‘Wow, you’ve faced quite a few rejections, huh?’ And I’d think, back then, it felt normal. You don’t overthink it. That word ‘struggle’ has been so demonized. ‘Poor guy is struggling,’ when in fact, it’s normal. It should be normal.”
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EXCLUSIVE: “Struggle Should Be Normal” – Says Ali Fazal
There’s wisdom in that. For most people in creative fields, rejection is part of the job. But somehow in Bollywood, the word ‘struggle’ comes with serious baggage. Ali’s take is simple and spot on. Struggling doesn’t mean failing. It’s just part of the process.
“It’s fine. You’re an actor. It’s not like you’re made of gold, that you show up and everyone bows down, like ‘He has arrived!’ No, that’s not how it works. We have to be built. And I hope the system allows that. That the system becomes better. That we champion one another. That we open more avenues.”
In classic Ali Fazal style, he keeps it real. There’s no sugarcoating the industry. Fazal admits it isn’t always fair, but he also believes in building a healthier, more inclusive ecosystem.
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