Mumbai: Ahead of Mirzapur The Movie, the actor revisits his maternal grandfather Ahmed Sayeed Sahab’s Akhada roots and draws an unexpected parallel with the Jujutsu training he undertook for Guddu Pandit
Ahead of the theatrical release of Mirzapur The Movie, Ali Fazal made a special trip to Lucknow, returning to a part of his family history that has always remained close to his heart. The actor visited an Akhada to reconnect with the world of Desi Kushti and Pehelwani, a tradition deeply rooted in the upbringing of his maternal grandfather, Ahmed Sayeed Sahab.
For Ali, the visit was particularly poignant as he found himself standing in a space that reminded him of his Nana and the values he grew up hearing about. Reflecting on what the Akhada represents, he said, “It’s the death of ego when you enter this place.”
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Sep 1, 2026Ali revealed that Pehelwani was an important part of his Nana’s upbringing, saying, “Mere Nana ki tarbiyat Pehelwani mein hui hai.” Although he had never practised Kushti himself and was initially hesitant to enter the Akhada, he found himself drawn to it. “I was earlier hesitant to enter this place because I have never done Kushti earlier, but something pulls you back,” he shared. Interestingly, that feeling took Ali back to another form of combat training, Jujutsu, which he took up while preparing to reprise Guddu Pandit in *Mirzapur The Movie*. Drawing a parallel between the two disciplines, he said, “Just like how I got pulled back into Jujutsu. Jismein back par aap gir nahi sakte, you will lose your points.”
For his return as Guddu, Ali consciously moved beyond conventional gym training, incorporating Jujutsu to build the character’s functional strength, combat ability and physicality. The connection with Kushti and Pehelwani now adds another, more personal dimension to his preparation for one of his most physically demanding roles.Ali also spoke about the traditional diet followed by his grandfather, offering a glimpse into the lifestyle associated with the Pehelwan culture and the world he had grown up hearing about. His Lucknow visit thus brings together two worlds that, on the surface, seem separate, his Nana’s Pehelwani legacy and the combat training that helped shape Guddu Pandit. But for Ali, both seem to come back to the same idea: discipline, resilience and the ability to leave your ego behind.
Mirzapur The Movie, starring Ali Fazal as Guddu Pandit, is set to release theatrically on September 4.
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