Ali Fazal Wish He Learned About VICTORIA & ABDUL In History

Fazal talks about the 100-year-old story that’s been hidden from the world.

BackstageOL’s Dave Morales sat down with Ali Fazal in this backstage interview to talk about his role in the biographical drama, Victoria & Abdul.

In the film, Fazal portrays Indian clerk named Abdul Karim, who befriended Queen Victoria in the years before her death in the late 1800’s. The actor told us in the interview that the story between Queen Victoria and Abdul is one that needs to be told.

“Nobody knows about [this story],” he said. “I wish I studied about it in history.”

The film’s synopsis:

Abdul Karim arrives from India to participate in Queen Victoria’s golden jubilee. The young clerk is surprised to find favor with the queen herself. As Victoria questions the constrictions of her long-held position, the two forge an unlikely and devoted alliance that her household and inner circle try to destroy. As their friendship deepens, the queen begins to see a changing world through new eyes, joyfully reclaiming her humanity.

Victoria & Abdul hit theaters September 29th. For more from Fazal, check out the full interview below!