Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub has been celebrating the International Emmy nomination for Real Kashmir Football Club. Next, he will be seen in Eetha. Laxman Utekar directs the film, which is based on the life of the legendary Marathi lavani and tamasha artist Vithabai Narayangaonkar.
Speaking exclusively with The Daily Jagran, the actor opened up about his role in Eetha and shared his first response to the Emmy nomination.
Zeeshan Ayyub On Eetha
Zeeshan Ayyub said he plays a central character in Eetha, which stars Shraddha Kapoor. "It's a central character. It's a very pivotal character. I think one of the strongest characters I've got in commercial films for sure."
He said he can't reveal much about the character. But he promised that Eetha is a very good film and that most people will love it. "It's that old-school, feel-good film. You have all the emotions there. You can watch this film with your family."
The actor also explained what drew him to the project. He said it was the chance to celebrate cinema and art, with big emotion and big drama, the kind Indian audiences love.
"You can just celebrate cinema and art. It is that kind of film and that is what made me excited. That old school, heightened emotion, heightened drama. I love that. I think Indian audience has a great appetite for drama. We all love that. We are not those people that like the bad copy of European films. I don't like those performances, especially in India."
He then spoke about why, in his view, Indian performances look different. He said it comes down to culture and the way Indians express themselves.
"Culturally, we are different. We are not exactly like them. They come from very cold environment so their hands will be in their pocket and they will not be opening up their face a lot. We are Indians. We use our hands. We use our eyes."
"We like to express. Our language is so rich. All the languages are so rich that we enunciate."
Eetha also stars Randeep Hooda, Anant Joshi and the late Nana Patekar, in what will be a posthumous release, along with Zeeshan and Shraddha.
ALSO READ - How Did Vithabai Narayangaonkar Die? All About Lavani Legend Who Inspired Shraddha Kapoor’s Eetha
Zeeshan Ayyub On The Emmy Nomination
Zeeshan also talked about the moment he learnt of the Emmy nomination for Real Kashmir Football Club. He was travelling at the time, so the news took a while to sink in. The messages began as soon as he landed in Mumbai.
"I just opened my phone to check what is there. And I think there was some journalist; she messaged me that, oh, congratulations. We would like to have your quote. I was like, what is she talking about?"
Soon, messages from the team made it real. He heard from director Mahesh Mathai, producer Kilian Kerwin and co-star Manav Kaul, and was quickly on one call after another.
He said the whole team felt the same joy, and that the nomination felt like proof that their work was right. "So I think it took me some time to be comfortable with the idea that, yeah, it has finally happened. But so happy. All of us were so happy. And it felt like we've been vindicated."
ALSO READ - What Is Real-Life Story Behind Emmy-Nominated Real Kashmir Football Club On SonyLIV?
With an Emmy nomination behind him and Eetha ahead, Zeeshan Ayyub is having a standout year.
FAQ
1. What role does Zeeshan Ayyub play in Eetha?
He plays a central, pivotal character in the film. He has called it one of the strongest roles he has received in commercial cinema, featuring high emotion and drama.
2. What is Zeeshan Ayyub’s show Real Kashmir Football Club about?
It is a SonyLIV sports drama based on the true story of Kashmir’s first professional football team. Zeeshan Ayyub plays Sohail Mir.
3. What kind of roles is Zeeshan Ayyub known for in movies and web series?
He is known for strong, realistic performances across intense dramas and comedies. Some of his notable projects include Raanjhanaa, Tanu Weds Manu Returns, Article 15, and the web series like Scoop.