Director and showrunner Mahesh Mathai has reacted to the International Emmy nomination for Real Kashmir Football Club, describing the recognition as a significant moment for the series and its team.
The show has been nominated in the Drama Series category at the 54th International Emmy Awards.
Mathai said he initially thought the announcement was a prank when he first came across it on Instagram.
“There was an Instagram post but no information about the Emmy site so I made calls and finally found that it was true,” he said, adding that the recognition had still not fully sunk in.
He described the journey from acquiring the story to bringing the right creative team together as a “magical journey”.
Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub, Manav Kaul lead the cast
Real Kashmir Football Club features Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub and Manav Kaul in leading roles.
Mathai, known for directing Bhopal Express (2000), also brought filmmaker Rajesh Mapuskar on board to direct some episodes.
The director said producer Kilian Kerwin had believed from the beginning that the show could reach international audiences and compete on a global stage.
According to Mathai, the Emmy nomination could now help the series reach a wider audience outside India, particularly as Sony is available in markets such as the UK and the US.
Mahesh Mathai hints at Real Kashmir Football Club season 2
Asked whether season two would be the next step, Mathai said the real-life story of Kashmir’s football club provides several possibilities for continuing the fictionalised series.
“The true Kashmir Football Club story, that we adapted into a fiction show, should move forward,” Mathai said.
He added that the first season was designed with the club’s continuing journey in mind and said it was now the “right time” to consider a second season.
The director pointed to the club’s subsequent triumphs and failures as potential material that could be adapted into future episodes.
However, he clarified that a sequel would not necessarily have to follow the real-life story exactly.
Season 2 plans still at an early stage
Mathai said the ideas for a sequel are still developing and that it is too early to provide firm details.
He is currently working on a thriller for Roshan Abbas’ production house, a project he has been developing for about a year.
Mathai said the upcoming series is expected to go on floors soon, meaning a second season of Real Kashmir Football Club could take some time to materialise.
Mahesh Mathai’s journey to Real Kashmir Football Club
Born in Kerala and raised in Mumbai, Mathai has worked across advertising and filmmaking.
He previously directed the British film Broken Thread (2005) and returned to feature direction with Real Kashmir Football Club.
The real-life club was founded by Sandeep Chattoo and Shamim Meraj and was later led by Arshad Shawl and Samarth Chattoo, Sandeep Chattoo’s son.
