Saif Ali Khan's son, Ibrahim Ali Khan, made his acting debut alongside Khushi Kapoor in Nadaaniyan, which premiered on Netflix in March this year. However, he faced significant backlash for his underwhelming performance in the film. Now, the 24-year-old actor has opened up about the nepotism debate, reflecting on how, unlike earlier times when there was excitement around a star kid's debut—like Hrithik Roshan or Ranbir Kapoor—today, there's genuine contempt for 'nepo kids,' a reality he personally experienced with the release of his first film.
Ibrahim shared that he first realised the tide was turning in the nepotism debate when his sister Sara Ali Khan, along with Janhvi Kapoor and Ananya Panday, were starting in the industry. Speaking to GQ India, he said that they became immediate 'targets' of criticism, adding that while nepotism has always existed in the film industry, the scrutiny and backlash have intensified recently.
He added, "I was hoping to joi the movies sooner. I realised that anyone from a film background looking to debut as an actor from then on was going to face backlash, no matter how good they may be. I was prepared for it, but didn’t expect it to be so harsh."
In the same interview, Ibrahim revealed that Priyanka Chopra messaged him after watching Nadaaniyan. She advised him to 'have a thick skin,' he added, "Priyanka Chopra sent me a very sweet message saying she watched the film and thinks I have a bright future," he shared.
She said I have to hold my head high and keep grinding; and that I must grow a thick skin. Coming from someone as accomplished as she is, I felt really comforted and motivated."
