Kayoze Irani on Ibrahim Ali Khan’s transformation for Sarzameen: 'Didn't want him to have that amazing hair and be cute at all'

Since making his acting debut in the romantic drama Nadaaniyan, Ibrahim Ali Khan has been steadily redirecting his career with his second feature, Sarzameen. Under the direction of Kayoze Irani, the newcomer is assuming a more gruff, multi-faceted persona to shake off the "chocolate boy" stereotype that has plagued the careers of numerous actors in the past.

Ibrahim Ali Khan's role as Harman

Khan portrays the role of Harman in Sarzameen, an Indian army officer's son who, after a disciplined upbringing, takes a radical turn and joins a militant group. Irani was determined to visually depict the narrative shift from a well-groomed youth to a hardened rebel.

In an interview with Mid Day, Irani states that while working with celebrity hair designer Darshan Yewalekar to create the character's changing look, her goal was for him to embody more of the part and less of Ibrahim. He said, "Iggy is handsome, charming, and gorgeous. But what I wanted from him, character-wise, was less of Ibrahim and more of the role. I wanted him to break out and be rebellious. Darshan and I focused on ideas that would give him this rugged and very masculine look."

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Multiple looks for Ibrahim Ali Khan

According to Irani, Khan's beard and hairstyle undergo many transformations that mirror the character's inner journey. The actor-filmmaker shared, "He has the most complex character in the film. To showcase the many layers in his character, we went from big beard, small beard, long hair, and short hair to rugged looks. I wanted to stay away from the 'chocolate boy' looks and Pataudi genes, so we went all out. I didn’t want him to have that amazing hair and be cute at all."

For Irani, it wasn't merely about the visuals; it was about showing how Harman changed on the inside. He revealed, "Every aspect of life plays into it—from what you wear to how you walk to how you carry yourself. That’s how the character finds depth. The character’s psychology always drove the visual identity."

Detailed visual planning

With early access to the complete script, Darshan Yewalekar made a detailed mood board to document Harman's appearance at each step. Irani's instructions were quite clear, as he aimed for the audience to assume, based on appearances alone, that the character is going through various stages of his life.

Yewalkar added, "It is always a challenge to transform a good-looking, camera-friendly, and chocolate boy into the kind of character he needed to be for this film. From day one, I felt we had to be hands-on. Our homework was solid. In fact, even when the shoot reached the halfway mark, we sat down again and discussed more ideas."

Ibrahim Ali Khan's commitment to character

There was never any question about Khan's dedication to Irani. He compliments the young actor for embracing a role that requires perseverance and personal development, saying, "Ibrahim was always focused on being the character, not just the hero." Khan departed from the glitzy expectations associated with his family's reputation.

Ibrahim Ali Khan appears determined to forge a new route with Sarzameen, one that does not rest on his charisma alone but instead constructs a rich and character-driven film persona.