Faisal Malik became an overnight sensation in 2020 when Amazon Prime Video released its Indian series Panchayat. The show, starring actors Neena Gupta, Raghubir Yadav, Jeetendra Kumar, and Chandan Roy, became a sleeper hit in the pandemic era. The show had no glamour, no bodybuilders, just pure innocence of a group of villagers, dealing with everyday ordeal and implementing government schemes and overcoming challenges. The series broke all the norms and Faisal Malik thinks it is directors Ram Gopal Varma and Anurag Kashyap who made people believe that one doesn’t have to look a certain way to become a successful actor.
In a recent interview with Siddharth Kannan, Faisal shared, “I think it is Ram Gopal Varma who made us believe that we don’t have to have an attractive physique to be an actor. The era 2003-2004 was all about ‘acting aaye na aaye body hona chahiye’ (You need to look fit to be an actor).”
Although Faisal Malik never got an opportunity to work with Ram Gopal Varma, he recalled the time he randomly visited his office. “I visited his office, Factory, once. They, however, didn’t let me meet him. So, I returned from there.” He added, “I often used to visit that area. There used to be a bread pakoda stall outside Factory. People used to stand in huge queues there because they believed that hanging out there might increase their chances of being picked by Ram Gopal Varma. Everybody knew he only picked average looking people for his movies.”
Faisal added, after RGV, it was Anurag Kashyap who took this belief forward. “After Ram Gopal Varma, it is Anurag Kashyap who took this forward of working with average looking people. There was a time when people used to fear that if you don’t look a certain way, you cannot be an actor. But, that has changed. Now, you see there are many great actors out there who may not have good looks or attractive physique.”
Faisal Malik, who marked his acting debut with Anurag Kashyap’s 2012 film Gangs of Wasseypur, worked closely with him even after the film’s release. Speaking about the actor-filmmaker, Faisal shared, “Anurag Kashyap is that rare person who knows what he is making. He knows his work.”
When asked about his constant outbursts on social media, he shared, “If you will look at Anurag Kashyap’s work, you will know why all the outbursts happen. He is someone who has worked as a showrunner, writer, producer as well as director. He is extremely loyal. Aur imaandaar aadmi tedha hota hai thoda sa (An honest man tends to have a few quirks). Satak jata hai (They are short tempered).”
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He added, “He is someone who breathes cinema. He is so deeply invested in it that he cannot do anything else. Even moving a simple coffee machine will be a task for him, but cinema? He can discuss it all day long without getting tired.”
Further justifying Anurag Kashyap’s frustration with the industry, Faisal shared, “He has made several iconic films and has given several amazing directors to the industry. They are all doing so well today. This proves he is extremely dedicated to cinema. So, whenever someone wrongs him or wants him to compromise with his craft, woh satak jaate hai (He goes crazy). When it comes to cinema, he is a great man.”
