Debut Director Kayoze Irani Unfazed by Criticism of His Film Sarzameen

As of October 9th, 2025, Kayoze Irani, the director of the film Sarzameen, remains unfazed by the negative reviews his directorial debut received. The film, which starred Ibrahim Ali Khan, Kajol, and Prithviraj Sukumaran, had a theatrical release but was met with criticism.

However, Irani reveals that the film has found success on OTT platforms, and the response from viewers has been encouraging. He acknowledges the pressure of launching a star kid like Ibrahim, but says he never doubted their decision to work together. Irani believes Ibrahim will have to keep working hard to improve as an actor, and he thinks Ibrahim had a better run with Sarzameen compared to his debut film, Nadaaniyan.

Regarding the criticism Ibrahim faced, Irani says that when you put yourself in the spotlight, you have to be open to criticism. He feels Ibrahim did a good job in Sarzameen, and the negative feedback is partly due to the "nepotism angle" that often comes with star kids.

Interestingly, Irani himself has retired from acting, stating that he does not enjoy being in front of the camera and feels more comfortable working behind the scenes as a director. He clarifies that his decision to direct was not a recent pivot, as he has always wanted to be a director, even before his acting stint in Karan Johar's Student of the Year.