Prithviraj Sukumaran says Ibrahim Ali Khan deserved a Bollywood debut with Sarzameen, not Nadaaniyan: 'You will know why when you see the film...'

Time of India

3 days ago

Prithviraj Sukumaran believes that Sarzameen would have been a more impactful debut for Ibrahim Ali Khan than Nadaaniyan. He praised Ibrahim's dedication and growth during the film's production, noting the unconventional nature of the role. Sukumaran also credited director Kayoze Irani for skillfully drawing out a layered performance from the newcomer.
Prithviraj Sukumaran
believes Sarzameen would have been a far more impactful launchpad for
Ibrahim Ali Khan
than Nadaaniyan. As the political thriller gears up for release, the actor opened up about working with Ibrahim on what was actually his first film, praising the newcomer's dedication, growth, and the unconventional nature of the role—one that, according to Prithviraj, would have made for a much stronger debut.
Witnessing Ibrahim's Journey
When asked about working with Ibrahim, Prithviraj told Bollywood Bubble that although the film is releasing after Nadaaniyan, it was actually Ibrahim's first project. He shared that he witnessed Ibrahim's journey from day one and praised the young actor's dedication, calling the effort he put in 'humongous.' Prithviraj added that he genuinely liked Ibrahim's performance, not just as a co-star or for promotional reasons, but from an objective standpoint.
A Word of Advice
Sukumaran further revealed that on the last day of Sarzameen's shoot, he encouraged Ibrahim Ali Khan to stay grounded and committed, acknowledging the hard work he had put into the film. He advised him that success in the industry doesn't make things easier and that consistent effort is key to growth. Prithviraj also noted that while Ibrahim comes from a privileged background, he's fully aware of the value of the opportunity and takes it seriously.
Credit to the Director
Concluding his thoughts, the actor credited director
Kayoze Irani
for skillfully drawing out a layered performance from Ibrahim Ali Khan by tapping into his personality and emotional depth. He called the script intriguing and shared that when he first read it, none of the actors—including Ibrahim or Kajol—had been cast. Over a two-year process, the casting fell into place. What intrigued Prithviraj most was how Sarzameen presented an unexpectedly offbeat debut for someone like Ibrahim—a choice that, in his view, would have made for a more compelling launch had it released before Nadaaniyan.
About Sarzameen
Sarzameen is produced by Hiroo Yash Johar,
Karan Johar
, Adar Poonawalla, Apoorva Mehta, and Star Studios, with Marijke deSouza and Somen Mishra serving as co-producers. The story and screenplay are written by Soumil Shukla and Arun Singh, while the dialogues are by Kausar Munir and Jehan Handa. Directed by Kayoze Irani, the film stars Ibrahim Ali Khan,
Kajol
, and Prithviraj Sukumaran in lead roles.