Sarzameen director Kayoze Irani on Ibrahim Ali Khan: 'What has to change is his coming and proving everybody wrong'

Summary:

• Ibrahim Ali Khan faces criticism for Sarzameen, following a mixed debut in Nadaaniyan.

• Director Kayoze Irani admits nepotism but stresses Ibrahim is being judged fairly by the public.

• Irani believes audience perception is improving and urges letting the work speak for itself.

Ibrahim Ali Khan is still relatively new to the film industry, having only been in two films so far. Despite this, he is subject to the same intense scrutiny that star kids generally endure. Not only did his debut in Nadaaniyan draw criticism, but his most recent film, Sarzameen, available on JioHotstar (OTTplay Premium), has also garnered mixed reviews.

Kayoze Irani addresses nepotism

The director of Sarzameen, Kayoze Irani, recently spoke with the Hindustan Times about the film's reception and how people see Ibrahim's performance. Although he is the son of actor-filmmaker Boman Irani, Kayoze did not shy away from discussing nepotism. Along with himself, he admitted that Ibrahim is a nepotism scion. The actor-filmmaker stated, "He has come into the spotlight and put himself on a pedestal where he's allowing the country to judge him. There have been doors that may have been opened for him. So when you are up there, you have to—you have to allow the public to criticise you because this is the same public that will show you love."

The filmmaker-actor, meanwhile, distinguished between constructive criticism and overly critical remarks. Kayoze explained, "I have a problem when it's mean and it's nasty, and I have a problem when the comments are nasty without having seen the film because then you are taking joy in being nasty."

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Ignoring trolls

However, he thinks responding to trolls is pointless. He went on to say, "For him, I don't think that my commenting on it or his commenting on it is changing that. What has to change is his coming and proving everybody wrong."

In Sarzameen, Ibrahim appears alongside Prithviraj Sukumaran and Kajol, both of whom have impressive careers. As the newcomers were expected to perform to certain standards, Kayoze thought about the dynamics on set. He shared, "Kajol and Prithviraj Sukumaran have nothing to prove, but Ibrahim and Kayo have a lot to prove. So, I genuinely embrace the criticism. Yes, when it comes without having watched the film and when you are eagerly awaiting someone's failure, that is wrong."

Growing audience reception towards Ibrahim Ali Khan

Kayoze believes that viewers' perceptions of Ibrahim have changed following this second appearance, despite the criticism. He declared, "I read all the reviews, I read all the YouTube comments, and the Instagram comments. I do feel that people have taken to him a lot more this time around. Now it's up to him to keep doing it, to keep signing and keep putting one step ahead of another. It's never going to get easier, for him or for me."

Ibrahim and Kayoze, in Sarzameen, aim to "let their work speak louder than the noise," as the director puts it, but are still dealing with the expectations of being novices in a legacy-driven profession.

FAQs

Q: Who is the director of Ibrahim Ali Khan's film Sarzameen?

A: Sarzameen is directed by Kayoze Irani, who is also the son of actor-director Boman Irani.

Q: Is Ibrahim Ali Khan a star kid?

A: Yes, Ibrahim Ali Khan is the son of actors Saif Ali Khan and Amrita Singh, and the younger brother of Sara Ali Khan.

Q: Where can I watch Sarzameen starring Ibrahim Ali Khan?

A: Sarzameen is currently streaming on JioHotstar (OTTplay Premium).