The upcoming comedy film Fukrey 3 is one of the most eagerly awaited sequels in Bollywood. With the huge success of the first two films, fans have been waiting for the next installment in the Fukrey franchise. However, they were surprised when it was revealed that Ali Fazal will not be reprising his role as Zafar in Fukrey 3. This has left many wondering – why is Ali Fazal not in Fukrey 3?
Fukrey 3 brings back the delightful characters of Hunny, Choocha, Lali and Bholi that audiences fell in love with. Pankaj Tripathi also returns as the hilarious Panditji. But the absence of Ali Fazal’s Zafar – who was an integral part of the earlier films – has generated much curiosity. Let’s take a closer look at the various factors that resulted in his exit from Fukrey 3.
Is it Because of Creative Differences with the Team?
One of the first speculations was that perhaps Ali Fazal had some creative differences or dispute with the Fukrey team, leading him to quit the film. However, this theory has been rubbished by Ali himself.
In a statement, Ali clarified “Zafar aayega ya nahi? Sab yahi puch rahe hain baar baar. Sorry saathiyon, iss baari nahi!” This suggests there is no bad blood between him and the Fukrey crew. Ali remains upbeat about collaborating with them again in future.
Does His Role Not Fit the Story This Time?
In the previous Fukrey films, Ali Fazal’s character Zafar played an important part in moving the story forward. However, some wonder if perhaps Zafar’s role is not integral to Fukrey 3’s narrative.
But the makers have not indicated that Zafar was written out of the script. On the contrary, they seem to have made efforts to include the character but ultimately could not due to other factors.
Is It a Date Issue?
The most plausible reason appears to be a date clash that made Ali unavailable during Fukrey 3’s shooting schedule.
Ali Fazal revealed “Zafar bhai ko kabhi kabhi Guddu bhaiya bhi banna padhta hai. Aur do universes overlap ho jaate hain kabhi kabhi.” This strongly hints that his conflicting schedule with Amazon Prime’s Mirzapur 3 prevented him from allotting dates to Fukrey 3.
How Did the Fukrey Team React to Ali Fazal’s Exit?
Director Mrighdeep Singh Lamba and the Fukrey team seem to have been very understanding about Ali’s unavailability.
Producer Ritesh Sidhwani said, “Ali is like family to us. Of course we missed him.” This indicates the makers harbored no hard feelings about reworking the script minus Zafar.
Co-star Varun Sharma also reiterated, “We miss him a lot. He gives very interesting inputs.” The Fukrey 3 cast seems to share a warm camaraderie with Ali.
Will Fazal’s Character Get a New Face?
There have been speculations that Zafar’s part will be recast with another actor in Fukrey 3. However, the makers have not announced any such development.
It appears they ultimately decided to proceed with the existing cast by writing Zafar’s character out of the script. After all, Ali Fazal’s brilliance in playing Zafar is hard to match.
What is Ali Fazal Currently Working On?
The reason Ali Fazal could not accommodate Fukrey 3 in his choc-a-bloc schedule is that he is swamped with multiple interesting projects.
Apart from shooting for Mirzapur 3, Ali Fazal has also been working on international projects like Hollywood film Kandahar. He has several other films lined up for 2023 including shoot of Afghanistan schedule of Kandahar.
Will Ali Fazal Return for Fukrey 4?
Both Ali Fazal and team Fukrey have hinted that Zafar may make a comeback in the future if there is a Fukrey 4.
Fazal stated he “will be back after a small detour to entertain you guys.” And producer Excel Entertainment also reiterated “Who knows, he might be in Part 4.”
This provides hope for fans to see Hunny, Choocha, Lali and Zafar together again if Fukrey 4 materializes. Fazal remains committed to the franchise.
How Are Fans Reacting to Ali Fazal’s Absence From Fukrey 3?
Expectedly, some fans are disappointed about Ali Fazal not returning for the second sequel. His chemistry with the Fukreys was much loved.
However, most fans have taken the news sportingly. They understand Ali’s scheduling conflicts and have conveyed that the actor will be missed in Fukrey 3. Fans continue to shower love on Ali and hope Zafar returns in the future.
The Fukrey franchise holds a special place in fans’ hearts. Ali Fazal’s contribution in shaping his beloved character Zafar has been invaluable. Even though fans will miss Zafar’s presence, they continue to look forward to Fukrey 3 for its infectious humor and spunky characters. Ali’s exit may leave a small void, but the franchise continues to hold promise.
However, Fukrey 3 is scheduled to be hit the big screens on 28th September, 2023.
Watch the trailer below,
Conclusion: Why Ali Fazal is Not in Fukrey 3
- No creative differences with the makers, Ali shares warm rapport with team
- Date issues due to clashes with Mirzapur 3 shoot prevented Ali from allotting dates
- Fukrey team understanding about reworking script without Zafar
- Makers didn’t recast Zafar, wrote him out of Fukrey 3 script
- Ali busy with projects like Mirzapur 3, Kandahar shoot
- Possibility of Zafar returning in potential Fukrey 4
- Fans disappointed but understandable about Ali’s exit from Fukrey 3
While Ali Fazal’s absence will be felt, hopefully Zafar’s energetic spirit can make a comeback in Fukrey 4 sometime in the future!