Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub Reveals Why He Was Reluctant to Do Real Kashmir Football Club After Emmy Nomination
Actor Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub has opened up about his initial hesitation to work on the SonyLIV series Real Kashmir Football Club, which has received an International Emmy nomination. In an interview with Zoom, the actor discussed his concerns about the project, the importance of its story and the recognition the series has received internationally.
Ayyub said he was initially reluctant to take up the project because he was concerned about how Kashmir would be represented. After reading the script, however, he reconsidered his decision and became interested in being part of the series. His comments have drawn attention following the show's nomination at the 54th International Emmy Awards.
Why Zeeshan Ayyub was initially reluctant
Kashmir has frequently been portrayed in films and television through narratives involving conflict, violence and terrorism. Ayyub's initial hesitation stemmed from concerns that the series might follow familiar patterns rather than explore the region and its people from a different perspective.
Reading the script changed his understanding of the project. The series offered an opportunity to tell a story about football, community, ambition and the people working to create something meaningful in challenging circumstances.
Ayyub has explained in media interviews that the creative team wanted to present a different perspective on Kashmir. Instead of focusing only on the region's difficulties, the story explores the role sport can play in bringing people together and creating opportunities for young people.
The actor's decision to participate highlights the importance of a script in shaping an artist's understanding of a project. His experience also reflects how stories rooted in a specific region can connect with audiences when they explore themes that extend beyond geography.
What is Real Kashmir Football Club about?
Real Kashmir Football Club is an eight-episode Hindi drama series available on SonyLIV. It stars Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub and Manav Kaul in leading roles and draws inspiration from the real-life journey of the Real Kashmir Football Club.
The story follows Sohail, a journalist played by Ayyub, and Shishir, an entrepreneur portrayed by Kaul. The two characters work towards establishing a professional football club in Kashmir. Their efforts involve finding players, securing resources and overcoming practical and personal challenges.
Football serves as the central theme, but the narrative also explores community, identity, resilience and the possibility of building a shared future. The series presents the sport as more than a competitive activity, showing how it can create opportunities and bring people together.
The real-life club was founded in Srinagar in 2016 by journalist Shamim Meraj and businessman Sandeep Chattoo. Its development and progress attracted attention because it represented a significant achievement for football in Jammu and Kashmir. The series uses this journey as the foundation for a wider human story.
According to reporting by India Today and Hindustan Times, the show seeks to move beyond the portrayals of Kashmir that often dominate mainstream screen narratives. It places the lives, aspirations and relationships of ordinary people at the centre of the story.
International Emmy nomination brings recognition
The series has been nominated in the Drama Series category at the 54th International Emmy Awards. The nomination places the Indian production alongside international television dramas and gives the story an opportunity to reach viewers beyond its original audience.
Ayyub has described the nomination as a major honour. In an interview published by Hindustan Times on September 25, 2026, he said the news was still sinking in and explained that the team knew the series had been submitted for consideration but did not know whether it would be selected.
He also said the team had not made the show with an international award in mind. Their objective was to produce the best series possible under the circumstances. The nomination has therefore come as a welcome recognition of the work put in by the cast and crew.
Ayyub acknowledged that the series had not reached as many viewers as the team had hoped. However, he said the responses from people who watched it made the effort worthwhile. He expressed the belief that the story deserved to reach a wider international audience.
The nomination is significant not only for the actors but also for the wider creative team, including the writers, directors, producers and other professionals involved in the production.
Zeeshan Ayyub speaks about confidence and Indian storytelling
Ayyub has also spoken about the importance of international recognition for Indian creative projects. He said the nomination had given him renewed confidence in the kinds of stories he has chosen to work on over the years.
The actor's comments come amid growing international attention for Indian films and television productions. Indian filmmakers and artists have received recognition at major international festivals, helping bring a wider range of stories and perspectives to global audiences.
Ayyub has pointed to the importance of presenting stories that offer viewers a different understanding of India and its communities. In the case of Real Kashmir Football Club, football provides an entry point for exploring the lives and aspirations of people in the region.
The series' nomination is an important milestone, although a nomination should not be confused with winning the award. The recognition nevertheless places the production in an international conversation about television drama and storytelling.
What comes next for the series?
The International Emmy nomination has renewed interest in Real Kashmir Football Club and the story behind its creation. For viewers who have not watched the series, the recognition may provide an opportunity to discover a drama that combines sport with themes of community, resilience and hope.
For Ayyub, the experience also reinforces the value of carefully choosing projects that offer something different from familiar screen narratives. His initial reluctance eventually gave way to participation after he read the script, and the subsequent nomination has brought the series additional attention.
The nomination marks a notable achievement for the cast and crew. As international audiences continue to discover Indian productions, the series offers an example of how a locally rooted story can address universal themes while presenting a more varied picture of Kashmir.
