Mumbai, July 23 (PTI) — Prithviraj Sukumaran, the renowned Malayalam movie star, has high praise for his "Sarzameen" co-star Ibrahim Ali Khan. According to Prithviraj, if Ibrahim maintains the same level of dedication and focus he demonstrated during the filming of the upcoming drama, he has a promising future ahead.
Ibrahim, the son of Bollywood icons Saif Ali Khan and Amrita Singh, faced criticism for his debut film "Nadaaniyan." His next venture, "Sarzameen," sees him sharing the screen with Prithviraj and Kajol.
Prithviraj, himself from a film family, empathizes with the struggles Ibrahim faces but urges the newcomer to remain resilient and optimistic. "Ibrahim is thinking, ‘I got criticized for my first film.' But just as criticism can be overwhelming, so can the love be when the audience embraces you. The world becomes a wonderful place when that key performance resonates," he said in an interview with PTI.
Furthermore, Prithviraj emphasized the fairness of audience judgments. With a career spanning two decades, the actor reflects, "I've faced criticism, but I've also felt immense love. I appreciate being judged on merit every Friday," he explains.
Prithviraj, son of the late actor and producer Sukumaran, has a diverse filmography ranging from commercial hits like "Classmates" to critically acclaimed dramas such as "Indian Rupee," "Ennu Ninte Moideen," and "Aadujeevitham." Reflecting on his journey in cinema, he acknowledges the advantage of his film family background in gaining a foothold in the industry.
"I know my surname got me my first film, but sustaining a career depended on proving my worth," Prithviraj added. "Cinema is unforgiving. By release day, the only critic that matters is the audience."
In "Sarzameen," set amidst the tensions in Kashmir, Prithviraj portrays Vijay Menon, a decorated army officer and father to Ibrahim's character, Harman. Kajol joins them as Harman's on-screen mother.
Praising Ibrahim's dedication on set, Prithviraj remarked, "On the final day of shooting, I told Ibrahim I was proud of his hard work. But he must understand that it only gets tougher. If he continues to work with this dedication, I hold high hopes for his future."
The film's director, Kayoze, venturing into his feature directorial debut, noted that star kids often face scrutiny due to their legacy. He acknowledged the challenges Ibrahim has embraced by stepping into the limelight. "Ibrahim is exposing himself to the world’s judgment, and their opinions will determine his success," Kayoze said.
However, the director remains optimistic that Ibrahim will defy the critics. “Both Ibrahim and I have much at stake with this film. We must deliver our best," he expressed. "People will have their opinions, but ultimately, we'll have the last laugh."
"Sarzameen" is set to premiere on JioHotstar on July 25.
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