Actor Ali Fazal issued a statement after he was omitted from the poster for Fukrey 3, the third installment of his hit series. He plays Zafar in the film, alongside Richa Chadha, Varun Sharma, Manoj Singh, Pulkit Samrat, and Pankaj Tripathi. However, fans will not see him this time because he opted out of the film due to a busy schedule.
In a statement, Ali explained his decision, revealing that it was either Fukrey or another of his hits, Mirzapur. He said, “So Zafar aayega ya nahi? Sab yahi puch rahe hain baar baar. Sorry saathiyon, iss baari nahi! Zafar bhai ko kabhi kabhi Guddu bhaiya bhi banna padhta hai. Aur do universes overlap ho jaate hain kabhi kabhi. (Everyone is asking me about Zafar not being in Fukrey. Sorry, my friends, this time he won't, at times Zafar has to become Guddu, and these two universes at times overlap). Once a fukra always a fukra so I am around. . . But I won’t be coming on screen for the third outing of the Fukras, Bholi, and Panditji!”
“I would have wanted to be part of it but time and schedules didn’t allow me to. I will be back in the future at some juncture, maybe sooner than you expect. Zafar will be back after a small detour to entertain you guys,” he also added. In Mirzapur, Ali plays the role of Guddu Pandit. The show is slated to return with its third season this year.
Mrighdeep Singh Lamba is directing Fukrey 3. Farhan Akhtar previously released two new posters for the film. He wrote, "Iss baar hoga chamatkaar, straight from Jamnapaar! #Fukrey3 arriving in cinemas on 7th September, 2023. (This time the magic will have from across the banks of river Jamuna).” Richa Chadha, Varun Sharma, Manoj Singh, Pulkit Samrat, and Pankaj Tripathi were all featured in the new posters, but not Ali Fazal.
This year's Janmashtami weekend will see the release of the film. Mrighdeep Singh Lamba previously confirmed that the Fukrey 3 shoot would wrap in June 2022.
