Actor Ali Fazal has reflected on the themes of violence and human nature in the context of his latest streaming series 'Raakh', now available on Prime Video, saying that while aggression is embedded in nature itself, individuals and societies must consciously work to contain it. The actor shared his thoughts in Mumbai following the show's release on 20 June.

The Philosophy Behind the Series

Speaking alongside cast members Sonali Bendre, Aamir Bhashir, Ramandeep Yadav, Prosit Roy, Anusha Nandkumar, and Sandeep Sanket, Fazal drew a direct line from the natural world to human behaviour. He argued that the impulse to dominate — the sense of 'I have something that you don't' — is the root driver of conflict at every scale.

'It's the very nature, I suppose. There is violence in our nature as well. I think it is there. The start point only is, I have something that you don't. And I think that one-upmanship is what is carrying the world forward in some way or form. Sadly, that is, I have something that you don't. Everything from consumerism, nuclear war, politics is based on this concept,' Fazal said.

On Entropy and the Balance of Forces

When asked specifically about entropy — the tendency of systems to move toward disorder — Fazal acknowledged the concept as a reflection of nature's inherent violence. He noted that the food chain itself is built on an act of violence, where the predator's survival comes at the prey's expense. Yet, he suggested, equilibrium is possible. 'Somewhere in that you find a balance. You call it the male-female balance, you call it the duality, whatever,' he added.

Notably, Fazal stopped short of fatalism. He expressed hope that greater awareness of violence's consequences could temper its expression in human affairs.

The Human Cost of Violence

Fazal urged audiences — and society at large — to viscerally understand what violence does to a person, not merely in abstract terms but in its immediate, physical reality. 'It in real time affects people. And it's happening now as we speak. There are wars happening. We don't even go outside our country actually. There is enough, we have enough stuff happening here. So, that's it. That's the idea. Stop and maybe, just maybe like, understand how that one strike really translates on the other, on skin, on flesh. When flesh burns, what really happens. You have to understand that. You have to feel it,' he said.

This comes amid 'Raakh' generating considerable positive audience response, with Fazal's performance drawing particular attention for its emotional intensity.

About 'Raakh'

'Raakh' is currently streaming on Prime Video. The series features an ensemble cast and has been directed and produced with Prosit Roy among its key creative collaborators. The show's themes of destruction, consequence, and moral reckoning appear to have informed Fazal's off-screen reflections as much as his on-screen work.

As 'Raakh' continues to find its audience on the platform, Fazal's remarks signal a broader conversation the series hopes to spark — one about the cost of unchecked aggression, both personal and political.