Latest news with #FirstCopy
News18
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
First Copy Trailer Out: Munawar Faruqui Delves Into The World Of Piracy
Last Updated: The trailer centres around the story of Arif (played by Munawar Faruqui), who rises to be the kingpin of film piracy. Munawar Faruqui is all set to make his OTT debut with Farhan P. Zamma's series First Copy. After winning hearts in Bigg Boss 17, Munawar now steps into the world of acting with this Amazon MX Player original. He stars alongside Krystle D'Souza, Saquib Ayub, Gulshan Grover, Ashi Singh, and others in key roles. The trailer for First Copy, released on June 16, transports viewers back to the 1990s, capturing the passion, pulse and influence of cinema in that era. Set against the gritty backdrop of film piracy, the story follows Arif (played by Munawar Faruqui), a young man who rises to become a kingpin in the underground piracy network. As Arif's empire expands, the plot unfolds into a thrilling chase involving law enforcement, celebrities, and the criminal underworld. First Copy aims to blend drama and suspense with a hint of nostalgia. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Munawar Faruqui (@ From Munawar's charismatic antics to the intriguing roles played by Gulshan Grover, Ashi Singh and Krystle D'Souza, the trailer offers a rollercoaster ride while painting a vivid image of a wild and rule-breaking Mumbai in the 90s. As per Amazon MX Player reports, the reality TV star said, 'First Copy is that underdog story and extremely special to me as it marks my acting debut in a series." Talking about his role in the series, Munawar admitted that playing Arif's character was challenging, as the character is full of life, flaws, and big dreams. 'It's a mix of nostalgia, hustle, and emotion, and I'm excited for the audience to see this new side of me," he added. First Copy is set to premiere on Amazon MX Player on June 20. Sharing the trailer on Instagram, Munawar wrote, 'Naam First Copy hai, par yeh show 100% original hai. Milte hain 20th June ko, sirf Amazon MX Player par." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Munawar Faruqui (@ Before exploring the world of acting, Munawar was seen participating in various reality TV shows, including Lock Upp, Bigg Boss 17 and Entertainers Cricket League. This multi-talented star has also hosted stand-up comedy shows and released his own music. First Published:
News18
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Munawar Faruqui Has No Regrets For Losing Out On Darlings, Phone Bhoot
Last Updated: Munawar Faruqui's latest series is set in the 1990s and revolves around Arif, whose street-smart instincts led him into the murky world of cinema piracy. Munawar Faruqui has made his OTT debut with Farhan P Zamma's series First Copy. Munawar, who won hearts in Bigg Boss 17, is enthralling fans with this Amazon MX Player original. In the latest, the actor-comedian discussed his early attempts to break into Bollywood. He revealed that he once auditioned for minor roles in big-budget films but was glad that he did not get them. In conversation with Zoom, Munawar admitted that acting has always been his first love and he dreamed of becoming a hero. Munawar added that he had been auditioning for films long before he became famous. While offers did come in, they were mainly for small positions, far from the type of work he aspired to. When asked what films he auditioned for, Munawar replied Katrina Kaif's Phone Bhoot and Alia Bhatt's Darlings. He said, 'One role required me to play a dead man who appeared for barely a minute. In another role, I was required to sit in a pharmacy, simply asking a helper to hand out medicine." These were not the kind of roles he wanted to do, but still went for the audition. Although he never turned down work, he never aggressively sought these positions. He believes the casting teams made the proper selections. Later, when he saw the roles once the film was released, he was glad about not getting selected. He admitted, 'Main khud se auditions dene jane se hichkichata tha. Mujhe lagta tha main ready nahi hoon." Munawar went on to only pursue possibilities that came directly to him. He didn't know how to improvise or own a character during auditions at the time, but he continued trying. Munawar's latest series is set in the 1990s and revolves around Arif, a vibrant and sharp-witted young man whose street-smart instincts led him into the murky world of cinema piracy. The show also stars Krystle D'Souza, Gulshan Grover, Saqib Ayub, Ashi Singh, Meiyang Chang, Inam Ul Haq and Raza Murad. First Published:
News18
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Munawar Faruqui Shares How Salman Khan Grounded Him: 'When Bhai Explains Something...'
Last Updated: Munawar Faruqui calls Salman Khan a guiding light and reflects on his financial struggles during his father's illness in 2009. Stand-up comedian and reality show star Munawar Faruqui continues to shower admiration on Bollywood icon Salman Khan, crediting him for being a pivotal influence during his Bigg Boss 17 journey. Known for being expressive about his admiration for the superstar, Munawar recently opened up about how Salman's presence helped him stay grounded and focused when things got tough. Speaking to Zoom, Munawar called Salman a 'visionary". 'When Bhai (Salman Khan) explains something, and whenever you see him on TV or elsewhere, you hear so many people praising him. The reason you hear so much praise is because the people around him, those who live or work closely with him, respect him a lot," he said. Munawar further added, 'That's because when Bhai speaks, there's a lot of knowledge you can pick up from his words. Listening to him can genuinely help you in life. I think the people who truly care for him do so because he's not only visionary, but also highly experienced. He understands the world and people very well. He is very kind and has a good heart." The comic-turned-actor also took a trip down memory lane, reflecting on one of the most defining moments of his life marked by financial struggle and emotional turmoil. In 2009, during a medical emergency involving his father, Munawar experienced a life-changing realisation about money and survival. 'This impact happened in 2009 when there was a medical emergency at home," he recalled. He shared how even basic medication wasn't affordable and how that moment shattered his once-satisfying belief of just 'earning enough to eat." The incident ignited a fire in him to work harder and change his financial situation. On the work front, Munawar recently made his acting debut in First Copy, directed by Farhan Zamma. The web series, which premiered on Amazon MX Player on June 20, 2025, also stars Krystle D'Souza and Gulshan Grover. Prior to this, Munawar had hosted Hafta Vasooli and gained widespread popularity through reality shows like Bigg Boss 17 and Lock Upp.
Hans India
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hans India
Saanand Verma calls his role in ‘First Copy' a reflection of real industry dynamics
Mumbai: Actor Saanand Verma has opened up about his role in the project 'First Copy,' calling it one of the most layered characters he has portrayed. The 'Bhabhiji Ghar Par Hain' actor shared that the role is deeply rooted in the real dynamics of the entertainment industry, offering an honest and compelling look at the complexities behind the glamour of showbiz. Speaking about his character, Verma said, 'I play the right-hand man of a very big film producer from Bollywood, played by Ehsaan Grover. My character works closely with him—he's the go-to guy, the problem-solver. In the story, the producer becomes a victim of piracy. A film he didn't even release gets leaked, and that sparks off a huge conflict. I have more scenes in Season 2, but my arc begins in Season 1. The role is interesting because it's layered with real industry dynamics.' Saanand added, 'I've seen what piracy did to cinema in the '90s. I might not have watched movies at home on VCRs, but I've seen neighbors and people in the mohalla watch pirated VHS tapes in big groups—50, 60, even 100 people gathered in one house, watching films back-to-back the entire night. They used to rent VCRs, watch three films in one go, and return the device the next morning. That frenzy, that underground film culture, I've witnessed it. So when this story came to me, I felt a strong personal connect.' The 'Mardaani' actor also explained the meaning behind the title First Copy, describing it as a term commonly used to refer to pirated or counterfeit versions of original products. He drew a comparison, noting how luxury items like a ₹5 lakh Rolex often have cheaper replicas sold for a fraction of the price. In the context of cinema, he said, First Copy refers to films intended for theatrical release that are illegally duplicated and circulated for home viewing. Furthermore, talking about working with Munawar Faruqui, Saanand stated, 'He's intelligent, funny, and really sharp. You won't believe it's his first time acting in a fictional series—he was so natural, like he's been doing it for 25 years. There was no nervousness, he was fully immersed in his character. Working with him was pure joy. And because of this show, we've also become really good friends. I truly admire him—not just as an artist, but as a person. He's got charm, humility, and a brilliant sense of humor.' 'First Copy,' which revolves around the impact of film piracy in India, marked Munawar Faruqui's acting debut. The web series was released on June 20th, 2025, on Amazon MX Player.
Time of India
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'First Copy' star Munnawar Faruqui on playing Arif: 'This boy thrives on street smarts, manipulation'
Comedian-turned-actor Munnawar Faruqui has made his debut in the series 'First Copy.' After successfully balancing his roles as a comedian, rapper, and reality show participant, he has now ventured into full-fledged acting with this new series. In a recent exclusive interview, Munnawar shared insights about his character and the preparation that went into his performance. 'My character (Arif) is a boy who has big dreams, and he doesn't want to do slavery ever in his life. He wants to live like a 'seth' (boss). However, he doesn't have the resources to lead a life like that. So the hunger of becoming the boss makes him do everything, good and bad,' said the actor. Having said that, he shed light on the fact that his character will make you learn something. 'He will also teach you what not to do. You don't have to do bad things because the end is not good,' Munnawar said. Further, in the same conversation, Munawar spoke about the homework he did for the role. In his words gives maximum credit to his director, as he simply followed his vision. However, he did mention that whenever he read the script, he had just one thought - 'I have to con someone.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like What She Did Mid-Air Left Passengers Speechless medalmerit Learn More Undo His character knew the art of getting things done by hook or by crook. 'This boy thrives on street smarts, manipulation, something I guess I have,' said the actor. He continued, 'However, in all honesty, I didn't do anything special to make myself ready for the character. Everything was handed over to me by the director. I used ot come on the sets and follow what he asked. Thus, the credit for my character goes completely to the director.' On the other hand, the director of the series, Farhan P. Zamma , appreciated the actor for being real in front of the camera. He said that imitating someone is easy, but playing who you are, being that real and giving takes and re-takes of it, is not easy. However, Munawar's hard work and dedication to the craft made it look effortless.
