Actor Afnan Fazli, who portrays Dilshad in Sony LIV’s Real Kashmir FC—a compelling web series inspired by true events—has spoken candidly about his transformative journey into the project, the profound emotional layers of his character, and why the series resonates with him on an intensely personal level. The show features a powerful ensemble cast including Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, Manav Kaul, Anmol Dhillon Thakeria, Afnan Fazli, among others.
Afnan Fazli path to Real Kashmir FC was anything but easy. His audition journey stretched across six to seven rigorous rounds, with the series initially slated to go on floors a year earlier. However, production was abruptly halted following the untimely passing of Sandeep Chattoo, a real-life Kashmiri Pandit and a crucial inspiration behind the story. The tragedy led to the project being shelved for nearly a year, casting uncertainty over its future.
Despite the delay, Afnan Fazli remained firmly locked in for the role. Owing to the show’s international collaboration, the early audition rounds were conducted in English. “Creative producer Killian Kervin was closely involved, which is why the first two rounds happened in English,” Afnan shared. At the time, he was pursuing his studies at Jamia Millia Islamia in Delhi. Following multiple shortlists, he was eventually invited to a Zoom interaction with showrunner Mahesh and the producers.
“Mahesh asked me how I perceived Dilshad,” Afnan Fazli recalled. “I told him that, in many ways, every child in Kashmir is Dilshad—forced to grow up too soon and carry burdens far heavier than their age allows.” Being a Kashmiri himself, the character felt instinctively familiar to him.
Hailing from Pulwama, Kashmir, Afnan Fazli admits that even allowing himself to dream once felt like an act of quiet defiance. “Even today, I sometimes stop and remind myself that this is real—that I’m living a life I once only dared to imagine,” he said. He deeply related to Dilshad’s internal conflict between football and family responsibilities. “He’s still a child, but the absence of his father pushes him into adulthood too early. He’s willing to sacrifice the one thing he loves most because duty comes before desire.”
Reading the script under strict confidentiality only strengthened his conviction. “It felt like one of the most honest, sensitive, and nuanced portrayals of Kashmir I’ve ever come across. I remember thinking that even if this were the only project I ever did, it would still fulfill me as an artist.”
Reflecting on the filming experience, Afnan Fazli described it as profoundly life-altering. “Acting heightens your emotional awareness. I learned so much from my co-actors, the directors, and simply from being present in that environment. My on-screen family felt so real that even my own mother believed we were an actual family.”
Real Kashmir FC is currently streaming on Sony LIV and unfolds across eight compelling episodes, offering an intimate, heartfelt, and powerful narrative that goes beyond the game of football to explore resilience, identity, and hope.
