Kumail Nanjiani comments on criticism of the film

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In an interview with the Wild Card with Rachel Martin, the actor Kumail Nanjiani commented on the criticism that the film Eternals received upon its release, and how it faced the barrage of criticism that was directed at the film.

No podcast, Nanjiani explained that Eternals forced him to confront the limits of control an actor has over the outcome of a project. While audience response, box office performance, and reviews are largely out of an actor’s control, he noted that the ability to learn from an experience remains firmly in his control. “Most of the time when I’m acting in something, I can’t decide how good it will be,” disse Nanjiani. “I can’t choose how the public will receive it. I can’t choose how much money it will raise. I can’t choose what the critics will think.”

According to the actor, the experience ended up clarifying for him the difference between personal achievement and public impact. He described how he learned to separate the satisfaction of giving oneself completely to a role from the unpredictable reaction that comes when a project leaves an actor’s hands.

This shift in mindset, he said, has become essential to maintaining a healthy creative life in an industry built on constant judgment and comparison. Rather than viewing Eternals as a career setback, Nanjiani saw it as a necessary recalibration.

The film forced him to confront expectations surrounding the long-term security of a franchise, especially after he signed the contract for what was initially presented as a multi-picture commitment.