Is Ali Fazal Training Like a Wrestler for His Role as Guddu Bhaiya in ‘Mirzapur: The Movie’?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Ali Fazal is training like a wrestler for authenticity.
- He draws from his family's wrestling heritage.
- The film aims to present a refreshed version of Guddu Bhaiya.
- ‘Mirzapur’ explores themes of crime and power in Uttar Pradesh.
- Ali’s diet includes traditional recipes for strength.
Mumbai, Sep 18 (NationPress) To take on the character of Guddu Bhaiya in the film adaptation of the acclaimed series ‘Mirzapur,’ actor Ali Fazal has embraced his family's heritage of “pehelwani and kushti” to enhance his strength and muscle mass.
A source close to Ali shared with IANS: “Guddu Bhaiya is a beast in his own right, and Ali wanted to embody him with the same authenticity that his ancestors brought to their craft.”
“His family boasts a rich history in Pehelwani, and he grew up witnessing the discipline, resilience, and raw physical power it demands. Rather than relying on countless protein shakes, he is revisiting those roots, training and eating like a wrestler,” the source elaborated.
Ali is reportedly drawing from his family’s traditional recipes, which are abundant in natural proteins, ghee, milk, and seasonal produce, adding a local touch to his diet.
Reflecting on his current fitness regimen, Ali stated, “The goal is to develop a physique that’s not merely for aesthetics but one that can genuinely fight, endure, and dominate, just like Guddu would. This is my approach to bringing a refreshed, more intense Guddu to the big screen.”
The crime-thriller series “Mirzapur” chronicles the life of Akhandanand “Kaleen” Tripathi, a crime lord and businessman who is the de facto ruler of the Mirzapur district in the Purvanchal region of Uttar Pradesh, India.
The first season's main cast includes Pankaj Tripathi, Ali Fazal, Divyendu Sharma, Vikrant Massey, Shweta Tripathi, Shriya Pilgaonkar, Rasika Dugal, Harshita Gaur, and Kulbhushan Kharbanda.
The second season retains the main cast from the first season, but substitutes Massey and Pilgaonkar with new actors including Vijay Varma, Isha Talwar, Lilliput, Anjum Sharma, Priyanshu Painyuli, Anangsha Biswas, and Neha Sargam.
Filming for the series primarily took place across Uttar Pradesh, especially in Mirzapur, along with other locations like Jaunpur, Azamgarh, Ghazipur, Lucknow, Raebareli, Gorakhpur, and Varanasi.