Muzammil Ibrahim claims even Shah Rukh Khan agreed he deserved best debut award over Ranbir Kapoor: ‘Outsiders face such things and they can’t even complain’ |
The Bollywood debut race of 2007 saw several promising newcomers, but while some soared to stardom, others felt overlooked and sidelined. Among them is Muzammil Ibrahim, who recently opened up about the challenges he faced as an outsider and his belief that he deserved the ‘Best Debut’ award more than the eventual winner, Ranbir Kapoor. His candid reflections reveal the harsh realities of the industry, where talent doesn’t always guarantee recognition.In a conversation with Siddharth Kannan on his YouTube channel, Muzammil reflected on the 2007 debut race, where he shared the spotlight with Ranbir Kapoor and Neil Nitin Mukesh, who debuted with Saawariya and Johnny Gaddaar respectively. Muzammil revealed that even veteran actor Nana Patekar acknowledged his performance in Dhokha as the strongest among the newcomers but hinted that the awards were already leaning in Ranbir’s favour. Muzammil firmly believes that he delivered a better performance than Ranbir in Saawariya and felt he deserved the ‘Best Debut’ awards that year. Though he now admires Ranbir’s talent and success, he maintains that Dhokha showcased a more impactful debut.Dhokha, directed by Pooja Bhatt and produced by Mahesh Bhatt, featured Muzammil Ibrahim alongside Tulip Joshi. Muzammil revealed that he was initially informed he would be paired with Kangana Ranaut, but she was replaced before filming began. He also shared that the late Irrfan Khan had praised his performance, telling Mahesh Bhatt that few actors could deliver what Muzammil had achieved in the film.Muzammil revealed that although he was nominated for ‘Best Debut’ alongside Ranbir Kapoor and Neil Nitin Mukesh, some award shows didn’t even invite him to the ceremonies. He recalled feeling deeply hurt when Shah Rukh Khan took his name on stage, reportedly saying that Muzammil deserved the award more. According to him, even Ranbir had expressed something similar. Despite being nominated, both he and his film Dhokha were sidelined, leaving him feeling helpless and disheartened. Watching his name being read out on stage while sitting at home was a painful moment—one he described as unjust, especially as a young outsider with high hopes.
