Riz Ahmed Has a Message for Fahadh Faasil, Vir Das After Beating Them to Tom Cruise’s Digger Role

Riz Ahmed reacts to Fahadh Faasil, Vir Das missing out on Digger role with Tom Cruise

Mumbai: Riz Ahmed has a gracious message for Fahadh Faasil and Vir Das, two Indian actors who were in contention for the role he eventually landed in Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s Digger, which stars Tom Cruise in the lead.

Ahmed, who plays Ganesh, a scientist and one of the trusted advisers to Cruise’s character, addressed the casting journey in an interview with SCREEN. Asked what he would like to say to Fahadh and Vir, Ahmed replied: “Sorry. Thank you for your incredible work, and I hope we get to work together.”

Vir Das auditioned twice for Digger

Vir Das had previously revealed that he auditioned for the film twice. After the Digger trailer was released, the comedian-actor shared that the filmmakers ultimately chose Riz Ahmed.

Das described being disappointed but also praised the film's script, calling it an unusual and exciting project. His post was later deleted, but screenshots circulated online.

Ahmed's response comes without any apparent rivalry. Instead, he acknowledged the work of both Indian performers and expressed hope that they could collaborate in the future.

Why Fahadh Faasil stepped away

Fahadh Faasil's route to the project was different. The Malayalam actor had previously spoken about his discussions with Iñárritu and explained that the filmmaker was concerned about his accent for the character.

According to Fahadh, he was asked to spend around three or four months in the United States to work on perfecting the accent. He said the financial arrangements did not make the plan commercially viable for him, and he ultimately decided not to pursue the role.

Fahadh had also clarified that he did not consider the situation a straightforward rejection, saying the accent was the main concern raised during the process.

Who does Riz Ahmed play in Digger?

Ahmed plays Ganesh, an American of Indian origin who works as a scientist and adviser to Tom Cruise's character, Digger Rockwell.

The film is a satirical dark comedy directed by Iñárritu, marking the filmmaker's first English-language feature since The Revenant. The cast also includes John Goodman, Sandra Hüller, Michael Stuhlbarg and Jesse Plemons.

The story follows oil tycoon Digger Rockwell as he attempts to convince the world that he can save humanity from a disaster connected to his own actions.

Riz Ahmed on working with Tom Cruise

Ahmed has also spoken about his experience working with Cruise, describing the actor as someone who gives off an unusually intense and positive energy.

For Ahmed, the film also represents an opportunity to explore themes of identity and prejudice through a large-scale Hollywood production. He has said that stories can help people connect as human beings despite the divisions surrounding them.

With Digger now nearing its theatrical release, the casting story involving Ahmed, Fahadh and Vir has added another layer of interest for Indian audiences following the film.