Ibrahim Ali Khan, who stepped into the limelight with his debut film Nadaaniyan in March 2025, has often been renowned for his charming resemblance to his father, Saif Ali Khan. However, beyond the glitz and glamour of Bollywood, Ibrahim has faced personal challenges that have shaped his journey.
In a recent interview with GQ India, the young actor revealed his ongoing battle with speech and hearing issues originating from a severe health condition in infancy.
'I had very bad jaundice and that went straight to my brainstem'
Shortly after his birth, Ibrahim was diagnosed with a severe case of jaundice, which had lasting effects on his health. He shared, "Soon after I was born, I had very bad jaundice and that went straight to my brainstem. I went on to lose quite a bit of my hearing, and that impacted my speech."
The actor continued, "My speech is something that I've had to work hard on since I was a child, with coaches and therapists. It's not perfect; I'm still working really hard on it."
This early health setback led to significant hearing loss, which in turn affected his speech development. Despite these challenges, Ibrahim was later sent to a boarding school in England, which turned out to be transformative in unexpected ways.
'It shaped my character and changed my perspective on life'
Adjusting to life in a foreign country presented its own set of challenges. Ibrahim recalled, "Being Indian, it was hard to fit in, but I had the best four years of my life. I played sports, made new friends and learnt a lot. My speech issue was so bad back then, and the move placed me in this new space where I had to survive. I don’t mean to sound like some rich kid whining, but when you’re 14 and on your own, boarding school isn’t easy. It’s very strict. Yet, it shaped my character and changed my perspective on life."
The experience not only helped him work on his speech but also instilled resilience and independence, qualities that have been instrumental in his acting career.
