Hansal Mehta calls Nadaaniyan backlash “harsh” & “traumatizing,” blames stars’ advisors
Ibrahim Ali Khan debuted in Bollywood with Nadaaniyan, backed by Karan Johar, alongside Khushi Kapoor. Their acting and dialogue delivery drew heavy criticism online. Trolls targeted them, making their debut experience difficult.
Filmmaker Hansal Mehta defended them in an interview with ETimes. He called the backlash “harsh and unfair” and slammed the public for making tasteless remarks. He reminded people that many established actors had awkward debuts but were not scrutinized as intensely due to the absence of social media.
Mehta questioned if these young actors were truly prepared before being launched. He held producers, directors, and advisors accountable for ensuring actors develop their craft before entering the industry. He argued that lineage alone doesn’t guarantee acting talent.
Recalling his experience, Mehta said he once approached a star kid for an unconventional film. However, their advisors insisted on a conventional debut with a grand launch, similar to Kumar Gaurav, Sunny Deol, Hrithik Roshan, or Tiger Shroff. He criticized this approach, stating that actors should focus on their work instead of relying on big banners and influential advisors. He urged newcomers to prove themselves through performances, regardless of box office results, as respect comes from talent, not lineage.
Nadaaniyan, directed by Shauna Gautam, featured Ibrahim and Khushi in lead roles alongside Mahima Choudhary, Suniel Shetty, Jugal Hansraj, and Dia Mirza. Audiences criticized its weak storytelling, awkward dialogues, and underwhelming performances. The film is now streaming on Netflix.
