Ali Fazal did not have to look too far for inspiration to play a gangster in the web series, Mirzapur. He modelled the character on his Lucknow-based street-smart uncle, Rizwan, who lived a wildlife. Co-star Pankaj Tripathi's character of a drug lord is said to be inspired by gangster-turned-politician from Uttar Pradesh. The actor says this is the darkest character he has played so far; it is what the audience will love to hate in Mirzapur, which is set in the hinterlands.

Ali Fazal, who has earlier wooed the audience with his boy next door avatars dons a beefed up and muscular look for Mirzapur. Ali who hails from Uttar Pradesh underwent rigorous training for his physical transformation, however, to get into the skin of the character, Ali took a rather unusual inspiration.