Everyone who watched the first season of the Netflix megahit felt that specific, gut-wrenching ache when Player 199 met his end. It was brutal. You know the scene—the marbles, the betrayal, the look of pure, unadulterated shock on Ali Abdul’s face. But behind that heartbreaking performance is a guy who basically upended the entire landscape for foreign actors in South Korea. Anupam Tripathi, the Squid Game Ali actor, isn't just some lucky find. He’s a classically trained powerhouse who spent a decade grinding in an industry that wasn't exactly designed for him.
He moved to Korea in 2010. Imagine that for a second. A young man from New Delhi, India, packing everything up to study at the Korea National University of Arts (K-ARTS) on a scholarship. He didn't speak the language. He didn't have a safety net. He just had this massive, burning drive to act.
The long road to becoming the Squid Game Ali actor
Most people think Anupam just appeared out of thin air when the green tracksuit went viral. Honestly, that couldn't be further from the truth. Before he was Ali, he was a "background" guy. A "foreign worker" in the credits. He had small, often uncredited roles in massive Korean productions like Ode to My Father (2014) and Descendants of the Sun (2016). In Space Sweepers, he played a secretary. He was there, working, learning the nuances of Korean sets, and perfecting a language that is notoriously difficult for native Hindi speakers to master.
The grit is real.
When director Hwang Dong-hyuk was casting for Squid Game, he struggled to find the right person for Ali. He needed someone who could embody the "pure" and "naive" spirit of an immigrant worker while also having the physical presence to survive the Red Light, Green Light game. Then Anupam walked in. He spoke fluent Korean, but he knew how to dial it back to capture Ali's hesitant, respectful speech patterns. He landed the role, and the rest is basically TV history.
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Why the world fell in love with Player 199
Ali Abdul represented something deeply human in a show full of desperate, often selfish characters. He was the moral compass. While everyone else was plotting, Ali was saving Seong Gi-hun from a bullet in the first episode. This wasn't just good writing; it was Anupam's performance. He brought a specific kind of warmth to the screen.
You’ve got to appreciate the physicality he brought to the role. In the tug-of-war scene, you see the strain. In the marble game, you see the heartbreaking transition from hope to realization. It’s that range that turned a supporting character into a global icon. Fans in India were proud. Fans in Korea were impressed. It was a bridge between cultures that rarely gets built so sturdily.
Life after the marbles: What happened to Anupam Tripathi?
Success changed everything overnight. His Instagram following went from a few thousand to millions in days. But if you think he just sat back and counted royalty checks, you’re wrong.
Anupam stayed grounded. He finished his master’s degree at K-ARTS. He kept talking about his love for theater. Since the show blew up, he’s appeared on major Korean variety shows like I Live Alone, giving fans a glimpse into his humble apartment and his life as a working actor in Seoul. It was refreshing to see. No glitz, no ego—just a guy who really likes cooking chicken curry for his friends and practicing his lines.
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He’s also been branching out into different types of media. He voiced a character in the podcast series Scoundrel and has been involved in various international projects. The "Squid Game Ali actor" tag is something he wears with pride, but it's clearly just the opening act for him.
The struggle of representation in Chungmuro
Let's get real for a minute. The Korean film industry, often called Chungmuro, is notoriously homogenous. For a long time, foreign actors were relegated to caricature roles—the "scary thug" or the "clueless tourist." Anupam broke that mold. By playing Ali with such depth, he proved that international actors can carry significant emotional weight in K-dramas.
- He challenged the "foreign worker" stereotype by making Ali a hero, not a victim.
- He proved that language barriers are surmountable with enough training.
- He opened doors for other Southeast Asian and South Asian actors currently working in Seoul.
It wasn't easy. He’s spoken in interviews about the loneliness of those early years. The cold winters. The struggle to get people to see him as an actor, not just a "foreign actor." That distinction matters.
What's next for the man behind Ali?
While Season 2 of Squid Game is the talk of the town, Ali’s story is technically over (unless we get some wild flashbacks). But Anupam’s career is very much in high gear. He’s become a bridge for Indo-Korean cultural relations, appearing at festivals and diplomatic events.
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He is currently looking toward more diverse roles. He wants to do rom-coms. He wants to do action movies where he isn't the guy being bullied. Given his talent, he’ll probably get there sooner than we think. He’s already paved the way for a more inclusive Hallyu wave.
If you’re looking to follow his journey, keep an eye on his theatrical work. He often returns to the stage, which is where he says his heart truly lies. Whether he's on a massive Netflix set or a small stage in Seoul, the intensity is the same.
How to support international talent in K-Media
If you want to see more actors like Anupam Tripathi succeed, the best thing you can do is engage with their non-mainstream work. Watch the independent films they participate in. Follow their actual social media accounts rather than just fan pages. The industry responds to numbers. If the audience shows interest in diverse casting, the studios will follow the money.
- Follow Anupam on Instagram to see his latest projects.
- Check out Space Sweepers or The 8 Show to see how international casting is evolving in Korea.
- Support Indian-Korean collaborations, which are becoming more frequent in the music and film sectors.
Anupam Tripathi didn't just play a character; he started a conversation about what a "Korean star" looks like. He's a reminder that talent doesn't have a passport. Player 199 might be gone, but the actor who played him is just getting started.
For those looking to break into the international acting scene, Anupam’s trajectory offers a clear blueprint: learn the local language, respect the craft, and stay persistent even when the roles feel small. His ten-year "overnight success" is the ultimate proof that the long game pays off. Keep an eye on the upcoming K-drama casting announcements for 2026; you’re likely to see his name pop up in some very unexpected genres.