Exclusive: Ibrahim Ali Khan on Playing Harman in Sarzameen
Prithviraj Sukumaran, Kajol and Ibrahim Ali Khan’s Sarzameen has been released amid much anticipation. It follows Vijay Menon (Sukumaran), a man torn between a father’s love and a soldier’s duty, Meher (Kajol), a mother who fights against all odds to keep her family intact, and Harman (Ibrahim), a vulnerable young man caught at a crossroads.
For Ibrahim Ali Khan, stepping into the shoes of Harman wasn’t just about performing; it was about surrendering. A character laced with inner conflict, suppressed anger, and quiet vulnerability demanded far more than surface-level intensity, required emotional excavation. To access that kind of psychological transformation, Ibrahim immersed himself in intense prep work with director Kayoze Irani and sought guidance from his acting coach Atul Mongia, someone he credits with helping him unlock the emotional blueprint of his character.
Ibrahim Ali Khan said, “Of course, my director, Kayo sir, was very clear that I would have to tap into many deep and complex emotions to portray this character. We did one-on-one workshops with Atul Mongia, sir and honestly, he was tremendously helpful; he is one of the best acting coaches out there. His rule is simple and textbook: to feel and not to act. It was rigorous, we did many one-week sessions, and acting workshops can be draining! Especially if your character is a complex one with dark emotions. He teaches you to tap into your inner world and understand the subtext of a scene, something much easier said than done. Working with Atul sir and Kayo made me understand the psychology and emotional depth of the character.”
The film marks the feature directorial debut of Kayoze Irani and is produced by Hiroo Yash Johar, Karan Johar, Adar Poonawalla, and Apoorva Mehta under the banner of Dharma Productions. Sarzameen is streaming on JioHotstar.
Also Read: Prithviraj Sukumaran Can’t Stop Praising Ibrahim Ali Khan’s Performance in Sarzameen
