'Aamir Khan would play chess with us'

Who: Ali Fazal, Actor
What: Speaking about his film career



Actor by chance
I didn't plan on becoming an actor. I had never been to an acting school or workshop. Once I had broken my hand in boarding school and just to avoid going on the sports field, I enrolled for dramatics. But, I soon realised that I had started enjoying it. I went on to do several plays, including one with Naseeruddin Shah. One thing led to another and I decided to pursue a career in Hindi films. My debut film didn't get a theatrical release though it went to several film festivals. It was '3 Idiots' and 'Always Kabhi Kabhi' which gave me a good exposure.

Hero material
One of my school friends, who has turned producer, narrated a script to me. I was so impressed that I requested him to give me a role in it. He obliged and I was on board. As luck would have it, the lead actor had some date issues and they needed a replacement. And guess what? I was offered the lead part which I grabbed with both hands (laughs). This Hinglish film is shot in the US and directed by Rucha Humnabadkar. Of course, I am eagerly awaiting its release.

Working with the stars
It was a learning experience while shooting with Aamir Khan in '3 Idiots'. His hunger for knowledge even after attaining so much in life is simply amazing. In spite of everything, he's a very simple person. In between shots, he would play chess with us or mingle with the crew. I also got lucky when I worked with Shah Rukh Khan, who was the producer of 'Always Kabhi Kabhi'. He is cool, helpful, caring and extremely honest. I did a two-week workshop with Vidya Balan before starting the shoot of our film. She's a thorough professional and a gem of a person.

Matinee idol
Given a choice, I would like to work with Parineeti Chopra. She's a fabulous actress. Having said that, I am a die-hard fan of Madhuri Dixit and Juhi Chawla. I almost fainted when I met Madhuri for the first time (laughs). I also met Juhi briefly during IPL.

My kinda girl
There are no pre-conceived notions about the type of girl that I would want to date. I like to talk a lot and it would be wonderful if she can communicate well with me. It would be great if I find someone who can think across all my inabilities and weakness. To put it in simpler words, I would like to be with someone who talks about mundane stuff in an interesting way.