At the Toronto International Film Festival, Aziz Ansari sat down with Variety Studio to discuss his new film Good Fortune — a comedy with an existential edge that stars Ansari alongside Seth Rogen and Keanu Reeves.

Ansari explained that the film blends humor with themes of class and inequality, drawing inspiration from classic 1930s comedies by Ernst Lubitsch and Preston Sturges. “Those movies were very funny but also dealt with issues of wealth inequality and class. The idea of doing that kind of movie in today’s context was a goal,” he said.

Writing from Experience

While the film is fictional, some elements hit close to home for Ansari and Rogen. “Me and Seth always joke that we’re much closer to Jeff than Arch,” he laughed, referencing the film’s characters. Some of Jeff’s quirks even poked fun at themselves. But Ansari admitted he has never experienced the extreme struggles his characters face, like sleeping in a car. Instead, he connected through those moments of self-doubt while making movies: “Everybody’s had those moments where you feel like you want to give up. The film is about that moment for this guy.”

Simplifying his own life — including cutting back on smartphones and internet use — also shaped his creative process. “I’ve never written more or felt more productive in my life,” he noted.

Building Good Fortune

The seed of the story came from a playful “what if” scenario. Ansari imagined an angel tasked with saving people from texting-and-driving accidents who instead gets fired, becomes human, and struggles in Los Angeles. “That was funny to me,” he said.

When it came to casting, Ansari admitted he briefly considered staying behind the camera, but ultimately chose to star in the film. “The big advantage of writing for myself is I always agree to do my projects,” he joked. Writing for Seth was natural, given their friendship, while Keanu’s voice was “so iconic” that Ansari could write for him even before they met. Once they began collaborating, he said, “I really could dial it up. It was a blast.”

On Keanu, Seth, and Tone

Asked to describe Reeves in three words, Ansari smiled: “My beautiful angel.” For Rogen, his answer was simply: “Oh god.” Both, he emphasized, brought depth and warmth to the project. In fact, Ansari credited Reeves and the Gabriel storyline for making the film “sweeter” than originally planned.

Balancing humor with emotional resonance was key. “They’re not mutually exclusive,” Ansari explained. “So much of writing and directing a film is just about tone and knowing what the tone is in your head. Sometimes it evolves as you make the film.”

Lessons from Setbacks

Ansari also reflected on the challenges of filmmaking, including his halted Bill Murray project Being Mortal. Instead of dwelling on the disappointment, he channeled Steven Spielberg’s philosophy: move immediately to the next project. “Making a film is such an arduous journey. Just getting to the finish line is an achievement,” he said.

Fate, Luck, and the Future

Does he believe in angels? Ansari hesitated but admitted, “There are definitely times where you have this feeling like someone or something was looking out for me.”

As for what the film taught him about fate and control in life, his answer was simple: “You just have to try. Even when things are hard, you have to keep pushing. That’s part of the journey. It’s all the ride.”