Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub: My idea of humanity got strong after meeting locals during Real Kashmir Football Club | Exclusive

Real Kashmir Football Club stars Manav Kaul and Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub in the lead roles. The series, like the name suggests, is based on the sport in the region. Know more...

Real Kashmir Football Club

Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, who is one of the two main leads in the series Real Kashmir Football Club, experienced the local culture of Kashmir first-hand. While his co-star Manav Kaul hails from Baramulla in Kashmir and was seen in one such story, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub recalled to OTTplay about his perspective while shooting in the region. He exclusively spoke about what the locals taught him, what filming there for the series looked like and a lot more.

Excerpts from the interview…

Your co-star Manav Kaul is currently shining because of another story from Kashmir - Baramulla. Have you seen the film and did it change your perspective about the Kashmir we know or rather don't know?

I haven't seen Baramulla. My perspective isn't affected by the general perception. I'm the kind of person who questions and wants to see the human side of things rather than just getting swayed by the propaganda.

When I went there and we were shooting for almost one and a half or two months - it was a long shoot - meeting people there and spending more time with locals solidified the idea that humanity is alive and people are really warm like a human should be. My idea of humanity got strong.

While we keep hearing that Kashmir is slowly getting back to normalcy, what would your opinion on it be?

Things were getting better for people. They were hopeful when we spoke to them. The whole region has been through a lot. As far as development is considered, I have a different perspective. I don't think making too many buildings and bridges is the idea of development. It is of a society and the thought - the way people behave - that is real development and not just the infrastructure.

I'm actually happy that it wasn't affected by the infrastructural boom. The way Andheri is right now, I'm glad people are not going through that in Kashmir or any other place. The positivity and resilience that Kashmiris have, it is really important. It is inspirational because they have been through a lot. We can't even understand the intensity of it. Still, the way they talk to people and have that innocence, it is inspirational. If they can find happiness in these conditions, then who are we to complain? It was a great experience in that sense.

What was it that made you want to take up a project like Real Kashmir Football Club?

The basic idea that we need to tell the story of hope and inspiration. I was absolutely up for that. I would love to be a part of something like that.

Tell me about your equation with Manav.

We met in Delhi in 2008-2009. He came for a workshop and I had just passed out of NSD. We met there, and kept on meeting each other in between. It's very hard to define what we share. Whenever we meet, we talk very openly with each other but we don't keep on meeting. We didn't even meet as much after shooting for this series, but obviously, our bonding became stronger because we spent time together for nearly two and a half months.

What was it like playing your character and making sure that it looks fresh in Real Kashmir Football Club?

The preparation for the role is quite personal to me. There's a regular process which I followed. I figured what should be the graph of the character - where should he look confident or vulnerable. How will he talk to people? How will he approach people? What kind of body language should he have? That's the homework. That was what we did.

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What would you say is the show's selling point? Why would viewers want to watch it?

It's very fresh. We don't have many shows about football or sports in that sense. It is a story about inspiration, hope, and people getting respect. It has multiple aspects.

OTT has shifted its focus to overlooked Indian states like Kashmir, Assam, Nagaland, also adapting the culture through local songs and more. Having been associated with the digital world yourself, how do you view this shift?

It's important, but OTT is still very young compared to cinema. It's trying to understand the kind of content that should be up. It's too early to come to any conclusion.

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There's a trend of cliffhanger endings to a series to make space for a new season. Do you see season 2 of Real Kashmir Football Club?

There could be, but I honestly don't think so further in the future. For me, it's that the show should get released, be received well and the story should reach people. They should like the show. After that, you never know what will happen.

Real Kashmir Football Club FAQs:

Q: Is Real Kashmir Football Club based on a true story?

A: Yes. The SonyLIV (OTTplay Premium) series, Real Kashmir Football Club is inspired by the true story of the formation and journey of Real Kashmir FC, which became the first professional football club from Jammu and Kashmir to compete in India's top-flight football league. The club's creation was a collaborative effort between a Kashmiri Hindu Pandit and a Kashmiri Muslim, emphasizing unity and the power of sport.

Q: Who are the lead actors in the Real Kashmir Football Club series?

A: Real Kashmir Football Club stars Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub and Manav Kaul in the lead roles. Manav Kaul, who has personal ties to the region, plays one of the visionaries who helps establish the soccer team.

Q: When did Real Kashmir Football Club officially release on SonyLIV?

A: Real Kashmir Football Club officially launched on the SonyLIV (OTTplay Premium) on December 9, 2025, at midnight. However, it was made available for early streaming starting at 2:00 PM IST on December 8, 2025.

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