Mumbai, India — Actor Ibrahim Ali Khan, son of veteran actors Saif Ali Khan and Amrita Singh, has faced criticism for his performances in his first two films, Nadaaniyan and the recently released Sarzameen. In an exclusive chat with Hindustan Times, Sarzameen director Kayoze Irani spoke candidly about the feedback and the challenges facing a “nepo kid” in the industry.
Kayoze, who is the son of actor-director Boman Irani, acknowledged the privileged backgrounds that both he and Ibrahim come from. “Yes, I know that Ibrahim is a nepo kid, as am I,” he stated. “He has come into the spotlight and put himself on a pedestal where he’s allowing the country to judge him. So when you are up there, you have to allow the public to criticise you because this is the same public that will show you love.”
The director explained that while he accepts constructive criticism, he draws the line at comments that are “mean and nasty,” especially when they come from people who haven’t even seen the film. He believes that such negativity is rooted in a desire to see someone fail. However, he also emphasized that responding to these comments won’t change anything. “What has to change is his coming and proving everybody wrong,” Kayoze said.
Sharing the screen with seasoned actors like Kajol and Prithviraj Sukumaran, Ibrahim and Kayoze are aware of the expectations placed upon them. The director noted that Kajol and Prithviraj “have nothing to prove,” while he and Ibrahim “have a lot to prove.” He embraces genuine criticism but condemns the joy some take in others’ failures.
Despite the harsh reviews for Ibrahim’s debut, Kayoze feels that the audience’s reception to him in Sarzameen has been more positive. “I do feel that people have taken to him a lot more this time around,” he observed. He believes the path forward for Ibrahim is to continue working hard. “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,” he concluded.