Aziz Ansari Worked for DoorDash to Prepare for His Upcoming Movie, Good Fortune.

      Aziz Ansari worked as a DoorDash delivery driver to research for his new film, Good Fortune, which he found to be both challenging and somewhat dystopian.

      In Good Fortune, Ansari makes his feature directorial debut, portraying a struggling gig worker named Arj, who sleeps in his car and takes on temporary jobs, including food deliveries. With assistance from a “budget guardian angel” named Gabriel, played by Keanu Reeves, Arj finds his life switched with that of Jeff, a wealthy tech entrepreneur portrayed by Seth Rogen.

      Keke Palmer plays Elena, a woman that Arj tries to win over, even as her efforts distract her from her goal of unionizing the hardware store where she is employed.

      “I went and did DoorDash and spoke with those people,” Ansari shared with MovieMaker. “I interviewed individuals who lived in their cars and one person who attempted to unionize his Home Depot to aid in developing Keke’s character. That kind of information is invaluable; you can gain insight without experiencing everything firsthand if you conduct thorough research and imagine living what you are trying to depict.”

      Ansari cited filmmakers like Darren Aronofsky as inspirations, noting how they conducted extensive research into wrestling and ballet prior to making The Wrestler and Black Swan.

      He aimed for Good Fortune to resonate with those who have been part of the gig economy.

      “You want those who have experienced this reality to watch it and not roll their eyes but rather think, ‘Wow. How did they know that?’” he explained.

      Good Fortune portrays the disheartening sensation of performing well without any acknowledgment and the constant struggle to keep up. What insights did Ansari gain from his experience?

      “Of course, it’s known that it’s not enjoyable,” he said. “However, it feels a bit dystopian when you realize that much of your time is unpaid. You’re waiting for gigs and driving around, which incurs expenses for gas. If you have an older car, it takes a beating driving around L.A., which adds to your costs. You might make a delivery and not receive a tip at all. Or maybe the order isn’t ready. There are so many things that can go wrong.”

      He also noted the odd behavior of some customers who say, ‘Don’t say anything, just ring the bell and leave,’ which he finds peculiar.

      Aziz Ansari on the 'Dystopian' Elements of the Gig Economy Addressed in Good Fortune

      However, some aspects are even bleaker, he mentions, like the fear of being replaced by machines.

      “There are now these small robots delivering around L.A., and the even scarier part is that these companies are monitoring how human drivers operate their vehicles, so they can eventually program this into a self-driving car,” Ansari stated.

      Ansari's life, in contrast, resembles that of Jeff, the affluent entrepreneur living in the Hollywood Hills. Having relocated to London, he quipped, “I conducted all the research for the Jeff character, for sure.”

      Did Ansari find any personal fulfillment from taking on a demanding delivery job?

      “I tried it for a couple of hours and thought, this is tough, and I have so much more empathy for these individuals now, and I plan to tip them even better than before. And I believe Seth expressed a similar sentiment: Many conveniences in our lives are grounded in the struggles of others. I’m uncertain what the solution is, but it’s challenging. It really is tough.”

      Good Fortune is set to hit theaters this Thursday, presented by Lionsgate.

      Main image: Keanu Reeves as Gabriel, Seth Rogen as Jeff, and Aziz Ansari as Arj in Good Fortune. Photo by Eddy Chen, courtesy of Lionsgate.