Ali Fazal: I have invested both physically and emotionally in The Underbug

Actor-turned-producer Ali Fazal, whose new film The Underbug has received a positive response at the Slamdance Film Festival in Los Angeles during its international premiere, has said that he is excited to take on the role of a producer and an actor for the same film.

This is the second production for Ali along with his wife, actress Richa Chadha, who started their journey of producing films under their own banner, named Pushing Buttons Studios. Speaking after the screening of the film at the festival, Richa said, “It was a very proud moment for us, especially because it represented Indian cinema on such a huge global platform. This is a great time for cinema, as Indian movies are getting wider reach with a global audience.”

As the film is a psychological thriller, she says that it is not easy to cater to a niche audience, but the response that they have been getting is very encouraging. As producers, they both feel hopeful that more people will find the film interesting when it releases. “Films of this genre are quite tricky, since they have a very niche audience. But since it has got such a positive response, it kind of says it all,” Richa explained.

The film is directed by Shujaat Saudagar and it features Ali and Hussain Dalal in lead roles. The film was shot amid lockdowns in late 2020. The film has been extensively shot in a house, somewhere in the interior of Maharashtra. Ali, who has both produced the film and acted in it, said, “I am not just physically involved with the movie, but also emotionally. And seeing a response like this is quite heartwarming. The movie was made under very confused and stressful circumstances.”

He said that initially both of them were a little nervous about how the audience would react to the story, since it was the first screening of the film at the festival. “The movie also had the added responsibilities since it was its first screening, and the first reactions were positive, it gave us a lot of confidence,” Ali said.

The film is co-written by Shujaat, Abbas Dalal and Hussain, while Vikesh, Shujaat and Aman have also invested in the project. Richa and Ali produced another film, titled Girls Will Be Girls, which is directed by Suchi Talati.