Mohit Malik on Mirzapur: The Movie: 'You can't judge a character as good or bad'
Synopsis
Mohit Malik, a TV star stepping into the Mirzapur universe as Birju Lohar, reveals why playing morally complex characters demands empathy over judgement — and why the franchise's signature grey zone is exactly where actors are tested most.
Key Takeaways
Mohit Malik plays Birju Lohar in Mirzapur: The Movie , directed by Gurmmeet Singh .
Malik says actors must understand a character's mindset and circumstances rather than judge them as good or bad.
The film is presented by Amazon MGM Studios in collaboration with Excel Entertainment , produced by Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar .
The cast includes returning stars Pankaj Tripathi , Ali Fazal , and Divyenndu , with new additions Jitendra Kumar and Ravi Kishan .
Malik is best known for his TV roles in Doli Armaano Ki and Kullfi Kumarr Bajewala .
Actor Mohit Malik, who plays Birju Lohar in Mirzapur: The Movie, says the role demanded he suspend all moral judgement and dig deep into the character's psychology to make him believable on screen.
The Character and the Challenge
'Birju is a flawed character who makes choices that may not always be right, and that is what makes him interesting to play,' Malik said. 'As actors, we cannot approach a character by simply deciding whether he is good or bad.'
He elaborated that the real craft lies in understanding a character's inner world rather than evaluating his actions from the outside. 'We have to understand his mindset, his circumstances and what drives him to make certain decisions,' Malik explained. 'Even when you don't agree with a character's actions, you have to find the reasoning behind them and make them believable.'
Bringing Birju's Truth to the Screen
According to Malik, the central challenge was portraying Birju with honesty rather than with judgment. 'The challenge is to portray the character honestly without judging him,' he said. 'I believe audiences connect with characters who feel human, with their flaws, contradictions and complexities. With Birju, I wanted to understand the person behind his actions and bring that truth to the screen.'
This approach reflects a broader acting philosophy — one that prioritises empathy over evaluation, and complexity over simplicity. It is a method that actors working in morally grey narratives, a staple of the Mirzapur universe, are increasingly called upon to deploy.
About Mirzapur: The Movie
Mirzapur: The Movie is directed by Gurmmeet Singh and presented by Amazon MGM Studios in collaboration with Excel Entertainment. The film is jointly produced by Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar under the Excel Entertainment banner, with Kassim Jagmagia and Vishal Ramchandani serving as co-producers.
The movie brings back a host of familiar faces from the original series, including Pankaj Tripathi, Ali Fazal, Divyenndu, Rasika Dugal, Shweta Tripathi, Shriya Pilgaonkar, and Harshita Gaur. New additions to the cast include Jitendra Kumar and Ravi Kishan.
Who Is Mohit Malik
Malik is best known to television audiences for his portrayal of Samrat Singh Rathore in Doli Armaano Ki and Sikandar Singh Gill in Kullfi Kumarr Bajewala. The Mirzapur film marks a significant step into the web-entertainment space for the actor.
With the Mirzapur franchise consistently drawing massive audiences, all eyes will be on whether the film format retains the gritty energy that made the original series a cultural touchstone.
Point of View
Not a liability. The question for the movie format is whether that complexity survives the transition from binge-series pacing to a single theatrical runtime. Casting a television actor in a pivotal role is also a quiet signal about where the franchise sees its core audience — and how it plans to expand it.
NationPress
30 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who does Mohit Malik play in Mirzapur: The Movie?
Mohit Malik plays Birju Lohar in Mirzapur: The Movie. He has described Birju as a flawed character whose choices are not always right, which Malik says is precisely what makes the role compelling to portray.
What is Mohit Malik's approach to playing a morally grey character?
Malik says actors cannot approach a character by simply labelling him good or bad. Instead, he focuses on understanding Birju's mindset, circumstances, and motivations — finding the reasoning behind his decisions to make them believable, even when he personally disagrees with them.
Who is directing Mirzapur: The Movie and who is producing it?
The film is directed by Gurmmeet Singh and presented by Amazon MGM Studios in collaboration with Excel Entertainment. It is jointly produced by Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar, with Kassim Jagmagia and Vishal Ramchandani as co-producers.
Which actors from the original series return for Mirzapur: The Movie?
Returning cast members include Pankaj Tripathi, Ali Fazal, Divyenndu, Rasika Dugal, Shweta Tripathi, Shriya Pilgaonkar, and Harshita Gaur. New additions to the cast are Jitendra Kumar and Ravi Kishan.
What is Mohit Malik known for before Mirzapur: The Movie?
Mohit Malik is best known for his television roles — Samrat Singh Rathore in Doli Armaano Ki and Sikandar Singh Gill in Kullfi Kumarr Bajewala. Mirzapur: The Movie represents a significant move into the web and theatrical space for the actor.
