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? 

Umberto Barbagallo: It was by chance. *laughs* I was in Goa for a month and training at a gym there. One day, they said someone wanted a private session. I didn’t know who. Then Ali walked in; I didn’t know who he was, but everyone around us got excited. We trained. He came back the next day. He liked my teaching style. Later, when he saw I was back in India, he asked me to join him in Bombay and Delhi during his shoots. That’s how it began.

RN: Umberto's black belt in jiu-jitsu and teaching style added a lot of technical insight. It’s great to have outside perspectives as a trainer. We’re not rigid—we’re always learning.

What’s a regular session with Ali like?

RN: Closer to a project, we do 60 to 90 minutes. We start with mobility and flexibility work, and if it’s weights, we hit multiple muscle groups. MMA or jiu-jitsu gets their own days. We mix things up depending on his schedule. MMA becomes a form of cardio for fat loss and stress relief, but it’s also a skill. It gives a confidence boost. Some actors just enjoy it. Some, like Ali, get deep into the technical side. That makes it more interesting for me too.

UB: We had to stay flexible. Sometimes he worked 12-hour days, so we trained in short windows. Some days were just technical—jiujitsu and kung fu. Other days, we worked on agility and movement, not heavy weights. He wanted to stay light and sharp. The main focus was the ground game; but he also asked me to incorporate kung fu once he knew my background. I’m almost 41 now and I’ve only recently started focusing on coaching; training Ali was a great challenge. He gave me context for each scene in the script and helped me tailor the sessions to what he needed.

What are Ali’s strengths as a trainee? 

RN: He likes in-depth knowledge. He’s not the kind of person who just does what he’s told—he wants to understand the science, the technique. After every session, he writes things down. What he learnt, what he can improve. He’s a real student that way. 

UB: He’s smart, humble, and passionate. He was working insane hours but would still call me for training during breaks. He learns quickly and is very open. That’s what I appreciate—when someone wants to give 100 percent. He’s not 20 anymore, but he trains like someone with something to prove.

Rohit—combat sports does carry an injury risk. How do you manage injuries during training? 

RN: If needed, we guide them to physio first. Injuries often happen when small muscle groups are weak or there’s mobility issues. If they’re already injured, we adapt. More mobility, stretching, foam rolling, and focus on recovery techniques like massages and cold plunge.

What’s the most common mistakes you see as a fighting coach? 

RN: A lot of people don’t maintain their diet. Others overtrain. But diet is the main thing—they’ll train well but not fuel right. Make sure you have protein in every meal. Don’t go too low or too high on carbs or fats, but make sure you don’t eat meals where protein is missing. That’s a basic rule while training. 

UB: Too many! But mostly...they compare themselves to champions and get discouraged. They try to run before they’ve walked. They want to learn fast, but don’t master the basics. Patience is the key.