Ali Fazal Gets Fighting Fit

Two coaches, one goal: transforming Ali Fazal into a warrior monk—equal parts power and poise—for Rakt Bramhand

- By Sharan Sanil

If there’s one thing about Ali Fazal, it’s that the actor has never been one to sleepwalk through a role. Whether he’s hulking out for Mirzapur or filling out tuxedos in the Fast and Furious franchise, his body has transformed as much as his performances over the last few years. For Rakt Brahmand: The Bloody Kingdom, the upcoming action-fantasy series by Raj & DK, Fazal is levelling up once again—with a two-coach system that brings together the clinical precision of longtime MMA trainer Rohit Nair and the spiritual discipline of Italian jiujitsu and kung fu specialist Umberto Barbagallo.

One is a longtime collaborator; the other, a serendipitous find in a Goan gym. The goal? A screen-ready warrior who can flow between brute force and balletic control. Here's what both fighters-turned-coaches had to share:

Rohit, you've worked with Ali Fazal across multiple career phases. What's your approach to training him for each role?

Rohit Nair: My journey with Ali has been really long—and very different depending on the project. For Khufiya, he was playing a corporate guy, so we went with a lean, non-muscular look. Then for Mirzapur, he needed to be muscular and agile. So, training always shifts depending on the role. This time too, we needed a bit of combat prep and a solid frame—not too lean, just a good amount of muscle to complement the costume design.

How did Umberto come into the picture, and what did he bring to Ali's training?