One of the more delightful mainstream films at the 50th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) was *Good Fortune*, an American film in English featured in a Gala presentation. Directed by American comedian Aziz Ansari, who has roots in Tamil Nadu, the film also stars Keke Palmer and Sandra Oh. *Good Fortune* is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release, including in India, on October 17, 2025.
From the South Asian diaspora at TIFF, two diverse features explored the evils of capitalism. One of these was Aneil Karia’s *Hamlet*, presented as a Centrepiece film. This powerful British adaptation of Shakespeare’s great tragedy is performed in both Punjabi and Shakespearean English, starring Riz Ahmed and Sheeba Chaddha.
*Good Fortune* continues the growing trend of comedians becoming film actors, stars, and directors—following in the footsteps of icons such as Charlie Chaplin, Chris Rock, and Jordan Peele. This mirrors a historical shift when singers became film stars with the advent of sound in cinema, a trend also seen with India’s own Kapil Sharma.
The story centers on an angel named Gabriel (played by Keanu Reeves), a lowly angel with small wings whose duties are limited to preventing people from texting and driving simultaneously. Gabriel’s life changes when he observes the struggles of Arj (Aziz Ansari), a gig worker delivering for an app-based company. Arj juggles multiple shifts, barely manages to feed himself, and is forced to sleep in his car, which eventually gets towed due to unpaid parking tickets.
Out of compassion, Gabriel swaps lives with Jeff (Seth Rogen), a wealthy venture capitalist whose California mansion Arj regularly delivers goods to. Gabriel expects that Arj will soon realize the flaws of the wealthy, carefree life and want to swap back to his humble existence. However, to Gabriel’s surprise, Arj enjoys his new life—sipping cocktails by the pool—and has no intention of returning to his previous hardships.
The film’s narrative borrows elements from several classics: Wim Wenders’ *Wings of Desire* (1987), where an angel comes to Earth; the body-swap comedy *Freaky Friday*; and nods to Frank Capra’s *It’s a Wonderful Life*, in which a man contemplating suicide reconsiders after reflecting on his selfless acts and the impact he has made.
*Good Fortune* employs some narrative back-and-forth, with Gabriel visible only to Arj, mixing laugh-out-loud comedy with poignant moments. The film highlights the hearts of gold found at the bottom of the gig economy—such as Arj’s on-again, off-again partner, who dreams of starting a union to fight for workers’ rights, not just for those fortunate enough to currently benefit.
Keanu Reeves’ deadpan portrayal of the angel anchors the film, while Seth Rogen delivers a dry wit in his role. Aziz Ansari, who co-created and directed 11 episodes of the critically acclaimed Netflix series *Master of None*, as well as his 2022 comedy special *Nightclub Comedian*, brings his distinct voice to this project.
Presented by Lionsgate, *Good Fortune* is backed by producers Aziz Ansari, Anthony Katagas, and Alan Yang. Executive producers include Aniz Adam Ansari, Jonathan McCoy, Christopher Woodrow, and Connor DiGregorio. In India, the film will be distributed by PVR INOX Pictures.
Meenakshi Shedde, a film curator with 30 years of experience working with Toronto, Berlin, and other international film festivals, has played roles such as Cannes Film Festival Jury Member and Golden Globes International Voter. She is also a respected journalist and critic. You can reach her at meenakshi.shedde@mid-day.com.
https://www.mid-day.com/news/opinion/article/good-fortune-on-gig-economy-23595011