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Actor Ibrahim Ali Khan has had a tough initiation into Bollywood. After making his debut with Nadaaniyan in March, he followed it with Sarzameen in July. Both films, released directly on OTT platforms, were met with harsh criticism, with reviewers calling his performances “raw and unprepared.” Now, Ibrahim has opened up about feeling he rushed into his first projects.

“Could have been more mindful”

Speaking to Esquire India, Ibrahim acknowledged that while he never took his opportunity for granted, he entered films with the confidence that success was imminent. “I am not saying I took my chance for granted, but I stepped into the industry like, ‘Ho jaayega’. Of course, I was working very hard—like I’m still working hard on my speech issue. But in a way, I feel I must have rushed into that movie. I was 21 when I began shooting for it—others around me are doing it at 26, 27, 28—and I now think I could have been more mindful of the scale of what was going to happen,” he said.

Ibrahim’s debut, Nadaaniyan, directed by Shauna Gautam and featuring Mahima Chaudhry, Suniel Shetty, Dia Mirza, and Jugal Hansraj, released on Netflix in March. The film failed to impress critics and holds a Rotten Tomatoes approval rating of just 12%. His second outing, Sarzameen, directed by Kayoze Irani and co-starring Kajol and Prithviraj Sukumaran, fared no better critically.

Drawing strength from his legacy

The son of Saif Ali Khan and Amrita Singh and grandson of Sharmila Tagore, Ibrahim comes from one of Bollywood’s most celebrated lineages. He admitted that the weight of his family’s legacy often motivates him, especially during moments of self-doubt. “I usually always have self-doubt. Whenever I feel unsure, all this (lineage) is a reminder of who’s at home. ‘You’re Saif Ali Khan’s kid. Bebo’s (stepmom Kareena Kapoor) in your family. You should be able to do it. You should be smashing it, man,’” he shared.

Looking ahead: Diler

Ibrahim’s next project is the sports drama Diler, which also stars Sreeleela and is directed by Kunal Deshmukh. The film reportedly revolves around the journey of a marathon runner. While a release date is yet to be confirmed, it is expected to arrive in 2026, offering Ibrahim another chance to make his mark in the industry.