Almost all of us approach a new year with optimism. When Ali Fazal says that 2025 might be the year he has long waited for, it’s coming from a place of optimism and conviction. “For me, 2025 feels like a culmination of the years of hard work and passion. I’m excited about my diverse range of projects this year,” says the actor. From Anurag Basu’s Metro... In Dino to Mani Ratnam’s Thug Life, from Rajkumar Santoshi’s Lahore 1947 to Mirzapur: The Film and Raj-DK’s web series Rakt Bramhand, Fazal’s line-up is varied.

But of all the projects, the most talked about is Rule Breakers, in which he shares screen space with Fleabag actor-writer Phoebe Waller-Bridge. Bill Guttentag’s directorial venture is based on the true story of an Afghan start-up founder, who encouraged high-school girls to learn robotics. Set between 2017 and 2019, the film follows this determined group as they challenge traditions, navigate political turmoil, and represent Afghanistan in international competitions.