Ali Fazal says although violence is part of nature, one must strive to maintain order in society, be kind
Mumbai, June 20
Actor Ali Fazal, who is receiving a lot of positive response to his work in the recently released streaming series 'Raakh', has said that although violence is innate to nature, one must strive to keep violence away from society.
The actor spoke with IANS after the show's release along with Sonali Bendre, Aamir Bhashir, Ramandeep Yadav, Prosit Roy, Anusha Nandkumar and Sandeep Sanket in the city.
The actor said that one-upmanship is what leads to violence in nature. When you put his statement in a broader context, it opens up a new perspective. The very essence of the food chain is violence, as the prey has to suffer violence at the hands of the predator to satisfy the hunger of the latter.
When asked about his views on entropy, and how it destroys everything that comes in its way, the actor said, "It's the very nature, I suppose. There is violence in our nature as well. I think it is there. The start point only is, I have something that you don't. And I think that one-upmanship is what is carrying the world forward in some way or form. Sadly, that is, I have something that you don't. Everything from consumerism, nuclear war, politics is based on this concept. Somewhere in that you find a balance. You call it the male-female balance, you call it the duality, whatever. I can only hope that we understand what it really means and the effects of it. Because this is real".
He further mentioned that although violence is a part of nature, one must understand what violence can lead to, and how it impacts a person, their soul and their skin.
"It in real time affects people. And it's happening now as we speak. There are wars happening. We don't even go outside our country actually. There is enough, we have enough stuff happening here. So, that's it. That's the idea. Stop and maybe, just maybe like, understand how that one strike really translates on the other, on skin, on flesh. When flesh burns, what really happens. You have to understand that. You have to feel it", he added.
'Raakh' is available to stream on Prime Video.
— IANS
Reader Comments
I appreciate Ali's philosophical take, but let's be honest—talk is cheap. Actors make these deep statements all the time for publicity. What concrete action is he taking to reduce violence? Is he supporting any peace-building NGOs or using his platform for real change? Words without action are just noise. Still, it's refreshing to hear someone in Bollywood discuss entropy and duality rather than just promoting their film with fluff.
The food chain analogy is powerful. We forget that violence is literally built into the fabric of life—a lion eating a deer, a farmer slaughtering a goat for Eid. But Ali is right that we must transcend our baser instincts. In Indian philosophy, we have the concept of Ahimsa (non-violence) as the highest dharma. The challenge is living it in a world driven by consumerism and nuclear threats. This interview made me think. 🙏
Ali Fazal is one of the few actors who actually has a brain. His comment about "when flesh burns, what really happens" reminds me of the news we watch daily—whether it's the Israel-Palestine conflict or communal riots in India. We've become numb to violence on screens. He's asking us to stop and feel the pain behind the pixels. That's real empathy. Also, 'Raakh' on Prime Video—sounds intense! Definitely adding to my watchlist.
I appreciate the sentiment, but why do we always look to celebrities for moral guidance? Ali Fazal is an actor, not a philosopher or social reformer. His words are decent, but can we stop treating film stars as our gurus? Let's focus on what ordinary people are doing—teachers, social workers, community leaders—who actually reduce violence on the ground. 🤷♂️
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.