Had to change my name to enter places for 'Mirzapur': Ali Fazal

Actor Ali Fazal had to change and register his name to Mir Fateh to enter the core interiors of Benares and Lucknow to shoot for the upcoming digital series "Mirzapur".

"I had to change my name to be able to enter these places. It has been the scariest time while shooting for 'Mirzapur', yet adventurous. I am not saying this proudly and would not recommend this to others. To others I would say, try acting for a change and forget method," Ali said in a statement.

Ali plays the role of Guddu Pandit, a gangster set to take over a lawless land where the trade of arms and drugs is a normal life. For months to play the role convincingly and to look the part, the makers made Ali go through an intensive physical transformation to look like a convincing and intimating gangster on-screen.

Also, to do his stunts right, Ali took to discovering underground fight clubs in Benares, Old Delhi and Lucknow.

He, through the knowledge of his friend, spent the time to attend these gatherings to understand the fight techniques of raw underground fighters.

"I just chanced upon underground fight clans in Benares and Badohi during my research, and I picked up some tricks of the trade. It helped," he added.

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Ali Zafar moved by 'Bohemian Rhapsody'

Pakistani actor-singer Ali Zafar says he does not remember the last time he was so moved by a feature film as he was by "Bohemian Rhapsody", a biopic on the late singer Freddie Mercury.

"I don't remember the last time I was so moved by a feature as I was by 'Bohemian Rhapsody' and a performance like the one by Rami Malek of the great Freddie Mercury. What a movie," he tweeted on Monday.

"Bohemian Rhapsody" is about the British rock band Queen, focusing on lead singer Mercury's life leading up to Queen's Live Aid performance at Wembley Stadium in 1985. The film gets its title from the 1975 Queen song of the same name.

Directed by Bryan Singer, it is written by Anthony McCarten, produced by Graham King and former Queen manager Jim Beach.

It stars Malek as Mercury, with Lucy Boynton, Gwilym Lee, Ben Hardy, Joseph Mazzello, Aidan Gillen, Tom Hollander, Allen Leech and Mike Myers.

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Taking a break is important: Richa Chadha

Actress Richa Chadha, who is currently busy with the final schedule of the upcoming biopic "Shakeela", says taking a break from work is important.

To adhere to her dates committed to her future projects, Richa will spend a working Diwali due to the shoot for the film away from home and friends. She is glad to be doing it this way.

"These dates were locked months ago. I agree that taking a break is important but I have had a busy few months and we as a team wanted to finish the shoot on time so that the film can be ready for its release on time. I'm happy to be spending time on sets on Diwali, it would be different, but we will make it special here to be with my little family I have made on the sets here," she added.

Director Indrajit Lankesh is helming the movie, which stars Richa in the role of real-life adult film actress Shakeela, who was popular in southern showbiz in the 1990s and continues to work even today.