‘Mirzapur: The Film’ born out of audience demand, says Farhan Akhtar

Producer Farhan Akhtar on Tuesday credited the enduring popularity of the “Mirzapur” franchise and persistent demand from its fans for its transition from a streaming series to the big screen with “Mirzapur: The Film”.

Produced by Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani under Excel Entertainment, the film expands the crime drama’s universe while bringing back popular characters including Kaleen Bhaiya, Guddu Pandit and Munna Tripathi.

Speaking at the film’s trailer launch, Akhtar said audiences had supported “Mirzapur” since its debut and continued asking about the franchise wherever he went.

‘Fans demanded this movie’

Akhtar said the show’s global reach grew after Amazon took it to audiences around the world, but the enthusiasm surrounding “Mirzapur” remained particularly striking.

“Ever since this film was announced, people have been asking when it will be released. So, it is the fans who have demanded this movie,” he said.

The producer said the team was grateful to have been able to bring together members of the original ensemble as well as new additions for the feature film.

Akhtar also credited writer Puneet Krishna and director Gurmmeet Singh with building the world of “Mirzapur” and successfully expanding it for cinema.

Recalling Krishna’s early pitches for the series, Akhtar jokingly said some of the writer’s ideas initially appeared so unusual that the team wondered what to make of them. He described Krishna and Singh as the “heroes” behind the franchise.

Film designed for new viewers too

Sidhwani said audiences would not necessarily need to have watched all three seasons of the series to understand or enjoy the film.

He credited Krishna and Singh with adapting the story to a larger cinematic canvas while making it accessible to newcomers. Sidhwani suggested that viewers discovering “Mirzapur” through the film might even be encouraged to go back and watch the original series.

Launched in 2018, “Mirzapur” became one of India’s most widely watched streaming crime dramas with its depiction of violence, politics and power struggles in Uttar Pradesh. Two subsequent seasons further expanded its characters and storylines.

Pankaj Tripathi talks about Kaleen Bhaiya

Pankaj Tripathi, whose portrayal of Kaleen Bhaiya became one of the franchise’s defining performances, reflected on the understated quality of his character.

“There is so much noise around us that even if there is a little silence, it feels powerful,” Tripathi said, adding that words spoken with depth do not require volume to make an impact.

Ali Fazal, who returns as Guddu Pandit, credited the large team working behind the scenes for taking the franchise from its first season to a theatrical feature.

He said “Mirzapur” had grown into a family over the years and thanked the different departments involved in bringing the film together.

Reflecting on Guddu’s evolution, Fazal said he had tried to retain an element of innocence within the character despite the violence surrounding him.

Divyenndu returns as Munna

Divyenndu, returning as Munna Tripathi, joked about his character’s comeback and seemingly indestructible personality.

“I am a Hindi film hero. I am immortal and nothing can happen to me,” he quipped while discussing Munna’s return to the franchise.

Shweta Tripathi Sharma, who reprises her role as Golu Gupta, spoke about her character’s complicated relationship with violence. She said “Mirzapur” had repeatedly shown that characters choosing violence ultimately faced consequences.

She also urged audiences to keep their enjoyment of violence confined to the screen.

Jitendra Kumar joins cast

Jitendra Kumar is among the new additions to the “Mirzapur” universe and will appear as Bablu Pandit, a character played by Vikrant Massey in the first season.

Kumar said he hoped audiences would give his character the same affection they had shown him for his popular “Panchayat” role.

Created by Puneet Krishna and Karan Anshuman, the franchise’s ensemble also includes Rasika Dugal, Harshita Gaur, Shriya Pilgaonkar, Ravi Kishan, Sheeba Chaddha and Rajesh Tailang, among others.

“Mirzapur: The Film” is scheduled to hit theatres on September 4.