After winning over audiences with his razor-sharp wit, raw storytelling, and unfiltered honesty, Munawar Faruqui is trading the comedy mic for a film set. The breakout performer and reality TV show winner made his acting debut in First Copy, a gritty crime drama series set in 1990s Mumbai, which released late last month on an OTT platform in India. And if you thought his transition to the screen was part of a long-term plan, think again.

“It was never the goal,” Munawar admits in a conversation with City Times. “I wasn’t working on my acting. I wasn’t planning for this. It just came to me, and I did it.”

In First Copy, Munawar plays Arif, a charismatic but morally conflicted film piracy kingpin. The series, directed by Farhan P. Zamma, also stars Ashi Singh, Krystle D’Souza, Saqib Ayub, and Bollywood veteran Gulshan Grover. But despite the weight of the role and the legacy of the era it revisits, Munawar dove headfirst.

“In India, everyone wants to be a hero or a cricketer. We grow up watching them. So getting a lead project felt like a dream," he says. "What made the difference here was that the director and writer believed I could do this, even though no one had seen me act before.”

From spotlight to set

Having spent years performing live — whether on a stand-up stage or on reality television — Munawar thought facing the camera would be easy. That illusion didn’t last long.

“Before acting, I genuinely thought it was easy. But once I started doing it, I realised it’s so layered. You can’t just be good or bad—it’s about being real. And that’s difficult.”

Still, his background in comedy proved useful in unexpected ways. “When you’ve performed for thousands live," he says, "that fear of being watched disappears. So being on set, with 200 people staring while you're shooting, it didn’t shake me.”

One of the biggest challenges, he says, "was not playing himself. There was no comfort zone for me on set. It was challenging to hide myself completely, to make sure Munawar wasn’t visible in Arif. But I’m glad people are saying they see the character, not me.”

Interestingly, the prep wasn’t about watching retro films or mimicking period accents. He says, “The director gave me a simple brief: stick to the language of Mumbai.”

Sharing screen space with actors like Gulshan Grover and Raza Murad gave Munawar more than just acting lessons — it gave him perspective. “They’re legends, and so grounded. I’d ask them questions off-camera about scenes, cinema, choices," he recalls. "It was very helpful, and they were generous with their feedback. It’s a blessing to start your journey with people like that.”

Munawar Faruqui. Photo by Shihab

As a stand-up, Munawar is used to writing his own material. Acting under someone else’s vision was a new experience—and not always an easy one. “With stand-up, you’re the writer, performer, and editor. In films, you’re saying someone else’s lines," he shared. "Sometimes I wouldn’t agree with a scene or dialogue, and I’d tell the director, ‘What if we do it like this?’ Thankfully, he was collaborative. We rewrote scenes in the van right before shooting. It became a shared process.”

Even though the show revolves around a dark, morally murky world, Munawar is quick to clarify—it’s not the beginning of a “conman universe.”

“Everyone’s saying that—even my wife! But no, it’s not my thing," he says. "The next project I’m doing with Mahesh Manjrekar sir is also crime-based, but very different in tone and feel.”

That show, Angadia, dives into the world of money laundering and goes on floors soon. “The casting is amazing, and the scale is completely different. I’m very excited for this one,” he adds.

So where does Munawar draw the line when it comes to content?

“In stand-up, I won’t say there’s anything I’d never touch. If it’s funny and audiences will enjoy it, I’ll go for it," he says.

But in cinema, Munawar adds, he hasn't reached that level to say no to something. "Although I will follow my gut. If something doesn’t sit right with my morals or heart, I’ll say no,” he adds.

For now though, he’s saying yes to exploration—and audiences are ready to see what Munawar 2.0 brings to the screen.