EXCLUSIVE: Ali Fazal Opens Up About The Differences Between Bollywood And Hollywood’s Work Culture

Ali Fazal is an actor who works primarily in Hindi films and TV series. He made his screen debut with a small role in the film The Other End of the Line (2008) before appearing in the TV miniseries Bollywood Hero (2009). He had his first Hindi film release with a supporting role in 3 Idiots (2009), and went on to star in Always Kabhi Kabhi (2011), Baat Ban Gayi (2013), and Bobby Jasoos (2014). Greater success came for his roles in the comedies Fukrey (2013), Happy Bhag Jayegi (2016), and Fukrey Returns (2017). In an exclusive chat with Bollywood Bubble, Ali Fazal compares his experience of working in Bollywood and Hollywood, cites the fashionably late culture and punctuality.

Ali Fazal Compares Working In Bollywood And Hollywood

When asked to compare the working style in Bollywood and Hollywood, Ali Fazal replied, “The day we started arriving on time, maybe, yeah, because I remember, like, I have all my schedules from America and anything outside, and it’s very specific. It’s not just an actor thing; it’s about how you design your departments—everyone is on the ball. At 4:30 a.m., I’m shaving, and by 4:45, rehearsals are already happening on set in the morning. I could be in my robe, half-shaved, or whatever, but I still have to be there. And we’re all there, we rehearse, and then we go and change, whatever’s needed.”

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He added, “And the vanities are still there; everyone has their own routine based on their department or whatever. But yeah, I think I would say that punctuality is one thing we can definitely take away from that experience. It’s not a unanimous thing you can say about timing in India. Sometimes, even I’m, you know, kind of awfully late, but I feel really bad about it. I think in general, in India, everyone’s fashionably late. But it shouldn’t be that way. Earlier, I used to park my car 500 meters away and then walk in fashionably late. I learned that, I think, yeah, maybe that’s not the best idea… not very late at least.”

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Ali Fazal On Friendship In Both Industries

When asked about the friendship culture since he has worked both in Hollywood and Bollywood, Ali Fazal said, “It’s just that sometimes the sense of permanence isn’t there. So, the good people—you really hold on to them, truly hold on. I have very few friends, maybe 5 or 6 close ones. And even among them, two had a fallout recently after like five years. So I thought, ‘Great, now that group is gone too.’ They’ve also parted ways, so you have to handle that. But yeah, I mean, eventually, you know, now my core unit is really strong.”

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Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: ‘Guddu Bhaiya’ Ali Fazal Reveals He Found It Easy To Give ‘Gaalis’ In Mirzapur; Jokes, “Abh Mahaul Hi Aisa Hai…”