Sarzameen Director Kayoze Irani To NDTV On Why He Cast Ibrahim Ali Khan: "This Boy Has A Face For The Camera, Let's..."
Ibrahim Ali Khan's debut in Naadaniyan on March 7, 2025, was one of the most anticipated star kid introductions in recent times. The film failed to live up to the expectations, but somehow the first glimpse of Kayoze Irani's Sarzameen later took a chance of restoring it.
Debut director Kayoze Irani spoke to NDTV about spotting Ibrahim Ali Khan on the sets of Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani as an Assistant Director, and how it led to him casting the young lad in Sarzameen.
Kayoze Irani says, "I was on the sets of Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani in Delhi, and we were sitting by the monitor. When we saw Ibrahim, we were struck by the thought that this boy has a face made for the camera, and we thought, let's give him a shot. We conducted extensive workshops with him, and that's how he came on board."
He adds, "Ibrahim was facing the camera for the first time. We shot for Sarzameen before Nadaaniyan. We did about six months of workshops, and what worked for me, with Ibrahim, was that we were able to tap into Ibrahim as a person, and he brought that into Harman, the character."
Plot
In Sarzmeen, Ibrahim Ali Khan plays the role of Harman, a seemingly innocent child who grows up to be a militant. A complicated relationship with his father (Prithviraj Sukumaran) and a disturbed childhood drives his character to the farthest end of seeking vengeance.
The story of Sarzameen revolves around Colonel Vijay Menon, who plays the role of a dedicated Indian Army officer who is committed to his duty in Kashmir, to the extent that he might choose his duty over family. He combats a personal crisis when his son Harman (Ibrahim Ali Khan) becomes radicalised by terrorists. The story then unravels to highlight the conflict between Vijay's responsibility towards his nation and his love for his son, particularly after he returns as a changed man.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
an hour ago
- News18
‘What A Beautiful Voice': Son Sneakily Films Mom Singing Saiyaara Track
Reacting to the viral video, an Instagram user wrote, "Mama cooked, ate and left no crumbs." Saiyaara is shattering box office expectations despite starring newcomers Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda. Since its release, the film's emotional story and soulful music have left audiences deeply moved, with some even seen crying and cheering in theatres. Amid the buzz, a wholesome moment is going viral. A woman, unaware that her son was filming her, was captured singing the movie's title track flawlessly. In the clip, she's lost in the melody, singing with ease and emotion, while her son quietly records. The original track, sung by debutant Faheem Abdullah, is already winning hearts, but this mother's heartfelt rendition has struck a chord with many online. A Mother's Kitchen Melody Wins Hearts The video opens with the woman cooking in her kitchen, completely unaware that her son has begun recording. Immersed in the melody of Saiyaara's title track, she sings effortlessly. As her son moves closer with the camera, she remains blissfully unaware, continuing her heartfelt rendition. When she finally notices the recording, she doesn't stop; instead, she smiles warmly and finishes the song. Taking to Instagram, the user wrote, 'Even my mother got the Saiyaara FEVER." Internet Can't Stop Praising Her Singing Reacting to the post, a user wrote, 'She didn't miss a single tune, so perfect and sweet." Another shared, 'Mama did justice to the song." 'Moms being so good at singing, is it a universal thing?" a comment read. An individual stated, 'Mama cooked, ate and left no crumbs." Another mentioned, 'Her singing skills are next level." One more added, 'What a beautiful voice." Why Mohit Suri Chose Faheem Abdullah Over Arijit Singh Arijit Singh is known for being the voice behind most romantic songs in Bollywood today. But for Saiyaara, director Mohit Suri decided to go in a different direction. He chose newcomer Faheem Abdullah, which surprised many, especially since Suri and Arijit gave us big hits together in Aashiqui 2. In an interview with NDTV, Suri shared the reason behind this choice. The director said, 'Arijit represents a cinema that I did 14 years ago. I love Arijit. I did use him in one song. But when I was looking for Arijit. I love KK sir, but that wasn't Emraan Hashmi for me in those early films. Then I found Arijit. So only when you seek, shall you find the answer. I'm constantly looking for new voices, constantly at it. I thought Faheem was the voice I wanted for Ahaan. You need to keep searching because that's what keeps you relevant. Otherwise, you're just living off yesterday's success." Saiyaara, which hit theatres on 18 July, has taken the box office by storm. According to Sacnilk, the film has already earned Rs 308 crore so far. About the Author Buzz Staff A team of writers at bring you stories on what's creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture. News18's viral page features trending stories, videos, and memes, covering quirky incidents, social media buzz from india and around the world, Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
NDTV
6 hours ago
- NDTV
Exclusive: How Director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra Found A Soulmate In Farhan Akhtar During Bhaag Milkha Bhaag
New Delhi: " Log bure nahi hote, haalat bure hote hain." And with that the conversation with Farhan Akhtar starts off on a bittersweet note as we reminisce about the legend that was Milkha Singh. While the world saw the many accolades and triumphs achieved by the world champion runner and an Olympian, what lurked in the shadows is a tragedy that taught him how to live life despite it. The 2013 biographical sports drama was expertly directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra. Milkha Singh honoured with the title of The Flying Sikh, lost his entire family in the chaos and violence that had unfolded between Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs in the 1947 Partition. And that's what brings us back to how we started and as Milkha Singh himself said, "People weren't bad, circumstances made them so." People today only remember the iconic story of an ordinary man Milkha Singh, who fled and came to India, and thus began his extraordinary story of becoming one of the world's most renowned athletes. On the occasion of Bhaag Milkha Bhaag re-releasing in theatres on August 8, 2025, NDTV spoke to Farhan Akhtar, the actor who not only played Milkha Singh, but became Milkha Singh. And the director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, who brought that vision to life. Mental Health Over Physical Fitness A lot of the conversation round Bhaag Milkha Bhaag even when it was released 12 years ago, was around Farhan Akhtar's commendable physical transformation. From bulking up to 75 kilos to shedding 15 killos for a leaner build, as the story moves towards Milkha Singh joining the army - Farhan Akhtar did the homework and the physical work. But what one often forgets is what it takes emotionally for an individual to go through such rigorous changes. Farhan Akhtar responds, "Thank you for asking that question. Absolutely right, because anyone who has gone through such a physical transformation will tell you that it's more emotionally challenging than it is physically. The only thing I focused on when I spoke to Milkha Singh and heard his story was that he worked harder than everybody else. So to me, representing that in the film was very important." Farhan Akhtar in Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. That's the tweet. 🙏🙏🙏 — Chaitanya. (@illusionistChay) October 29, 2020 What If Bhaag Milkha Bhaag Was Made Today? 12 years is a long time indeed, as Bhaag Milkha Bhaag gears up to re-release again, times have changed and so have the many platforms that would react to it. The film released at a time when social media was not the beginning and end of everything. One of the most pertinent themes of the film was the Partition of 1947 where British India was divided into India and Pakistan. In the current light after the horrific Pahalgam attack earlier this year, the tensions between the two nations continue to boil over. Social media's grave reactions to stories revolving around the mere mention of Pakistan in visual or verbal form are rampant. How would a film like Bhaag Milkha Bhaag fare? Farhan says, "Social media always had an opinion, even then. It's just the number of voices have grown. A film like Bhaag Milkha Bhaag and the passion with which it was made would resonate at any point of time it is released." The director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra adds to hit as he talks about the criticism and feedback that came towards the film, and how he chose to look at it at that point. He says, "There is always two sides to the coin. While you get the pats on your back, in our business, you need to be able to take it on the chin also. Finally, what counts is did your film stand the test of time? There is a sense of legacy there. Maybe that's why I make movies which are far and few. One in four years or five years I take my time." Bhaag Milkha Bhaag had its own share of controversies. To begin with, there was a lot of chatter around why the film would not work as it lacked the ostentatious touches of Hindi cinema glamour, it was also perceived to be a weak script. Some even questioned the casting of Farhan Akhtar who was not a Punjabi actor but was deemed fit to play a Punjabi character. The filmmaker responds, "I knew this story must be told. It's happened to me all the time. It happened with every film of mine, Rang De Basanti was another uphill task. And everybody asked me these questions. Other films are being made, and you are telling this story and that there's no romantic angle, action or drama. With Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, my collaboration with Farhan is outstanding. I just didn't find an actor. I found a soulmate." Sonam Kapoor Leaving A Lasting Impression Sonam Kapoor as Biro in Bhaag Milkha Bhaag was the epitome of quiet strength. As the conversation around limited screen time for women in films continue to trend every now and then, Sonam as Biro was impactful and an unmissable thread in Milkha's life as his love interest and a beacon of emotional support. Farhan concurs as he adds, "In a film that was predominantly very testosterone, there was Sonam's character Biro. She was not just some random romantic interest who Milkha Singh's character had at one point and then he moved on. She was the catalyst to get him off the street and make him think seriously about his life. Her character was a very integral part in the film, not just romantically." Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra says Divya Dutta who played the role of Milkha Singh's elder sister Ishar Kaur in the film, was the real heroine. #DivyaDutta has been around for 3 decades, quietly doing her job & becoming a benchmark. No frills & fancies, her repertoire boosts of extraordinary roles My fav scene 👇 One still makes you feel it! That's performance! Did we realise it's been 30 yrs of… — Mimansa Shekhar (@mimansashekhar) July 5, 2024 The director tells, "I told Divya, you are the heroine of the film. That's what Milkha Singh also used to say, 'My sister is the heroine in my life.' In every second sentence he mentioned his sister." Milkha Singh's Reaction To The Film One cannot contain pick one priceless memory of a legend like Milkha Singh. But the one that shall always remain in Farhan's heart forever was after the film had released. Farhan recalls, "We went to his house and I met him. We got a moment together, he sat down and I was sitting next to him and he put his hand on my hand and he said, 'You know, Farhan, he called me beta at that time, he said, you know, beta, you have added ten years to my life.' And I don't think any compliment or validation can get bigger than that." Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra adds, "Nobody can say how he felt because, how can you? Only the person knows when he sees his life unfold on screen. You can't describe that feeling. He had tears in his eyes." Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra On Staying With Milkha Singh And Prepping For The Film Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra covered miles to truly deepen the core of Bhaag Milkha Bhaag's story and that of the titular character. He went and stayed with Milkha Singh for a week to truly immerse himself into his life. The director recalls, "I got to know him through a friend of mine and he kind of made the meeting happen after I read his biography. I felt there was something there that I needed to know from the man himself. He told me his story and I told him to tell again. My flight left. I bought a couple pajamas and a toothbrush and a toothpaste and stayed there for seven days and didn't come back. There's something called gut feeling and till that time comes, I can't go back to Bombay. On the 3rd or 4th day, I wrote the first scene of the film, which was 1960 Olympics. Milkha is everyone's favourite." The filmmaker further elaborates on the crucial scene, "At the 200 meters mark, his coach shouts out bhaag and he turns to see how fast he has been. And he sees his childhood, He sees the man with a sword on a horse with blood dripping. And then I wrote the last scene where Milkha wins the race in Pakistan, and this time when he looks it's his childhood is smiling at him. It's not running in fear. So that was my story." Did Milkha Singh ever get to forgive the unfairness that life through at him. To lose his family, to lose them in such a tragedy. Was there remorse he could not get over? Farhan says this is where it comes a full circle where Milkha had said, " Log bure nahi hote, halat bure hote hai." Farhan adds, "He accepted it. It was just a very crazy time. And at that time, he used to say, 'There was a fever. So for me to carry that hate and to carry that anger around with me will destroy me. That's what he believed in and I guess that what got him going." As the film is all set to hit the screens on August 8, 2025, it's time to re-live history again through the cinematic lens of Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra and the award-winning performance of Farhan Akhtar. With a smile, they await for the theatres to once again echoe with the sounds of Bhaag Milkha Bhaag.
Time of India
9 hours ago
- Time of India
Khushi Kapoor shares rare photo of her mother Sridevi ahead of late actress's 62nd birth anniversary
Ahead of Sridevi's 62nd birthday, Khushi Kapoor shared a rare 1990s photo of her mother on Instagram, touching fans deeply. The late actress, India's first female superstar, passed away in 2018. Khushi and Janhvi continue to honor her legacy while Khushi builds her acting career in Bollywood. Just before what would have marked Sridevi 's 62nd birthday on August 13, her younger daughter Khushi Kapoor took to social media to honour the iconic actress with a touching tribute. Khushi, who made her acting debut with Zoya Akhtar's 'The Archies', posted a never-before-seen vintage photo of her mother that deeply moved her fans. Unseen 1990s photo of Sridevi posted on Instagram Khushi posted a photo on her Instagram story showing her mother, Sridevi, in the late 1990s. Sridevi is seen wearing a pink floral top and matching jeans, with her hair flowing freely and a bright smile on her face. Khushi didn't write any caption, but the picture itself expressed a heartfelt sentiment. Remembering Sridevi's legacy and tragic demise Sridevi, celebrated as the trailblazing female superstar of Indian films, tragically passed away on February 24, 2018, in Dubai due to an accidental drowning. Her sudden loss deeply affected the entire country. At that moment, her elder daughter Janhvi Kapoor was busy filming her first movie, 'Dhadak', a film that Sridevi, heartbreakingly, never had the chance to watch on the big screen. Khushi and Janhvi Kapoor keep Sridevi's memory alive Khushi and Janhvi Kapoor have kept their mother Sridevi's legacy alive by frequently sharing rare photos and paying tribute to her during important moments, such as her birthdays, anniversaries, and their own film milestones. Khushi Kapoor's ongoing journey in Bollywood On the professional front, Khushi Kapoor is still carving her niche in the Bollywood industry. After making her debut with 'The Archies', she went on to act in 'Nadaaniyan' and 'Loveyapa', but both films didn't manage to make a strong impact with viewers or critics. She is currently focused on preparing for her upcoming projects.
