Zaheer Iqbal’s return to Hindi cinema comes with a different set of priorities from the ones he carried into his 2019 debut. In an interview with HT Lifestyle, the actor linked his next film to a shift from hero worship to craft.
From Notebook to a psychological thriller
After Notebook (2019) and Double XL (2022), Zaheer Iqbal is set to appear in Karan Rawal’s psychological thriller Tu Hai Meri Kiran. He said the script attracted him because it offered ‘scope to perform and do something different, something that’s not me at all in real life’. He credited workshops and direction for helping him do justice to a character whose darker psyche he did not have to fully inhabit.
The film examines the line between love and obsession, and Zaheer refused to romanticise it. ‘I completely disagree with the way this guy is in love and his obsession,’ he said. His larger warning is that love and obsession are often confused, and the signs need attention.
A career reframed around craft
Zaheer described a shift familiar to actors who enter the industry chasing stardom. ‘When I became an actor, I wanted to be a hero and do the high-speed shots, the dancing and the glamour,’ he said. Working changed that. The priority now, he says, is ‘acting and being a good performer’, and he looks for a good script and a good character rather than comparing whose role is more important.
- He credits Notebook for lessons he carried into Tu Hai Meri Kiran.
- He wants to be known for strong performances rather than box-office numbers.
- He is actively seeking an action film, especially hand-to-hand combat.
Marriage, social media and success
Zaheer married actor Sonakshi Sinha in 2024. He said dating for years before marriage meant there were ‘no surprises’, and called choosing a spouse ‘the biggest and the most important decision of your life’.
On social media, he treats visibility as a choice. ‘If I share my life every day, I can’t blame people for feeling overexposed,’ he said. He added that he can step away to create mystery. His definition of success is similarly personal: ‘If I am happy, I am successful.’
Why it matters for Hindi cinema watchers
For an audience that tracks Hindi cinema closely, the interview marks an actor recalibrating after a quiet stretch. Zaheer’s turn from debut hero ambitions toward craft mirrors the path of performers who move beyond a first break. The shift matters because Bollywood’s star system has long rewarded image over sustained craft, and Zaheer is making that bet early. With Tu Hai Meri Kiran, audiences will see whether the quieter, craft-first version of Zaheer can carry a film.
Source: Hindustan Times
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