Ali Fazal has opened up about starring in a small role in Kamal Haasan’s Thug Life directed by Mani Ratnam. Ali said that he got a lot of flak for being part of the film, adding that he did it as he loved Ratnam’s filmmaking.  

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter India, Ali spoke of the film and said, "This opportunity came by, and it was a very tiny role. I said, okay, great, as I would love to share notes with Mani sir. I don't know what finally happened though. It didn't work at the box-office, as I understand. A lot of people have been messaging me, friends and fans, asking me why I would do something like this. To them I'm saying .. that it's okay."

The actor said that he had a pleasant experience working on the film as he was welcomed by Ratnam, Haasan and others with kindness. He also said that he knows of the scenes that are there in the film and the ones that didn’t make it to the final cut. “I would not question Mani sir’s vision. "They worked out the whole story. I know it went through a lot of changes in the making. Honestly, that's it to that - chapter closed," he added.

Ali hopes to work ‘more extensively’ with the veteran filmmaker again along with cinematographer Ravi K. Chandran, who shot the film.

In the gangster-drama, Ali played the role of Deepak Yadav, a rival of Haasan’s Sakthivel. His presence in the film was minimal, with lesser scenes.

Thug Life released in theatres on June 5. Meanwhile, Ali was recently seen in Anurag Basu’s Metro…In Dino.