'Raakh' star Ali Fazal shares how his childhood obsession with Al Pacino led to an unforgettable encounter: 'First time I was really starstruck'

Sharing the screen with global stars has become a familiar experience for Ali Fazal. From working alongside Dame Judi Dench in 'Victoria & Abdul' and Vin Diesel in 'Furious 7' to starring opposite Gerard Butler in 'Kandahar', the actor has built an impressive international filmography.

But none of those collaborations prepared him for the day he came face-to-face with his childhood idol, Al Pacino.

A lifelong admiration that started in a hostel room

For Ali, Al Pacino wasn't just another celebrated actor. He was someone whose body of work shaped his understanding of cinema from an early age. Long before streaming platforms made classic films easily accessible, Ali would actively hunt down Pacino's performances.In a conversation with Variety India, recalling those days, he shared, "The buck stops there.

I have chased that man since I was a kid. I remember that in my hostel I would list every film of his I wanted on the wall because it was not available. So, I would somehow get and watch these films."His fascination extended beyond the films themselves. Ali revealed that he became deeply invested in Pacino's career, often reading about his struggles and achievements.

A last-minute sprint led to an unforgettable encounter

Years later, fate offered Ali the opportunity to meet his idol while he was shooting 'Death on the Nile' in London.

However, the meeting almost never happened because he realised at the last minute that he had confused the timings of 'The Irishman' premiere.Describing the frantic rush, Ali said, "I was in London, and there was the premiere for 'The Irishman.' And I mixed up the dates. I realized 20 minutes before the opening of the gates, and I ran. I couldn't get a cab... Luckily it was in the vicinity. I wore my suit, and I ran. It was so filmi!"The first time Ali Fazal felt truly starstruckAfter making it inside the venue, Ali headed towards the bar for a glass of water.

What happened next became one of his most cherished memories."The doors open. I go straight to the bar because I needed water. I stop there, I turn to my right, and he's right in front of me. He's just looking at me smiling. That was the first time I was really starstruck by someone," he shared.Ali explained that meeting someone you admire as a fan feels completely different from collaborating with established actors on a film set."When you're working with somebody, it's fine. It's enriching. It's like, 'This is me, and I take whatever you're going to give.' But here, I wasn't working with him. I was just a fan."

Their conversation went beyond films

Instead of discussing movies, the two bonded over theatre, something Pacino has passionately pursued throughout his career.Ali recalled, "I told him what I was doing. And he was like, 'Oh!' because he's also very big on theatre. He's always been a big champion of Shakespeare and has a big body of work apart from the cinema he does."The actor also admitted that his admiration bordered on obsession while growing up."I used to talk about all the things that he had gone through. Like the number of auditions that Pacino had done for 'The Godfather.' I was really obsessed with him," he said.For someone who had spent years tracking down every Al Pacino film he could find, meeting the Hollywood legend was more than just another celebrity interaction. It was the fulfilment of a childhood dream that had stayed with him long before he entered the world of cinema himself.