Malayalam star Prithviraj Sukumaran is placing his bets on co-star Ibrahim Ali Khan, saying the young actor’s true potential will shine the moment he lands the right film — and when it does, the audience will love him for it.

Speaking ahead of the release of their upcoming film Sarzameen, Prithviraj praised Ibrahim’s work ethic, saying the actor has what it takes to rise above the criticism he received for his debut. “When that one film clicks, and one performance resonates, the audience will love you. That love will be just as overwhelming as the criticism,” he said.

Ibrahim, the son of actors Saif Ali Khan and Amrita Singh, has faced early backlash in his career, but Prithviraj — who also hails from a film family — offered perspective. “I got my first break because of my surname, but I’ve stayed here because the audience thought I had something more to offer. In cinema, your surname might get you the door — but the audience is the ultimate judge.”

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He added that Sarzameen, set against the backdrop of Kashmir, pushed both him and Ibrahim to dig deep. “I told him on the last day, ‘I’m proud of what you’ve done here. But this is only the beginning. It’s not going to get easier.’ If he keeps up this level of dedication, he has a very bright future.”

Director Kayoze, who also makes his feature debut with the film, echoed the sentiment, saying Ibrahim has willingly stepped into the spotlight and understands the stakes. “We both have the most to lose. But if we do our job right, we’ll silence the critics — and win over the audience.”

Sarzameen premieres July 25 on JioHotstar.

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