Why Babil Khan is Trending on Social Media

Babil Khan Controversy: As far as controversies in Bollywood go, a scandal involving Babil Khan, son of the late Irfan Khan, wasn’t simply another celebrity headline but a flash point igniting sincere discussions over authenticity, mental wellness, and the unrealistic stress of the film industry.

On May 4th, 2025, a video of Babil Khan was circulated over the web where he was seen breaking down, appearing quite upset, and calling  Bollywood the fakest industry. In the video, he took the names of several Indian actors, including Ananya Panday, Siddhant Chaturvedi, Raghav Juyal, Adarsh Gourav, Shanaya Kapoor, Arjun Kapoor, and singer Arijit Singh. His unfiltered words left fans and industry followers alike scratching their heads. Was he dissing these names or giving them a shoutout?

Babil Khan Viral Video

The video was widely circulated, and soon there was a spate of speculation about Babil’s mental well-being, and also the nature of his relationships with his friends. Worried fans casually reacted on social media with positive messages, with some questioning the significance of what he said. Things got more intense when Babil deactivated his Instagram account, leading to more speculations.

Babil Khan's Instagram Account

Barely hours after deleting his account, Babil returned on Instagram and reposted images and videos of a few actors he had spoken of in the video. Later, his team released an official statement, explaining that the video had been misinterpreted. The statement mentioned that Babil wasn't taking a dig at his peers but was instead acknowledging their role in the changing face of Indian cinema. His words, they said, were born out of respect, not contempt.

Although the clarification came through, the controversy took a new direction with filmmaker Sai Rajesh, who was supposedly collaborating with Babil for a Hindi remake of the Telugu movie Baby, seeking an apology. Rajesh criticized Babil’s team for playing sympathy games and suggested the ones not named in the video were being disrespected. This caused the two to indulge in a public spat, as Babil shared a piece of news that revealed how much of a toll the physical and emotional strain took on him while working on Rajesh’s project.

Babil Khan New Movie

Reacting to Rajesh’s comment, Babil penned a post on social media in which he vented his frustration and expressed that he had given two years of his life to the filmmaker’s film and gone through immense physical pain for his part. He admitted slitting his wrist for the purposes of the film and that he had “bugs in his beard” for the role.

The news shocked fans, and those within the industry, too, leading some to ask questions about what is forced of actors in the name of their art and the personal toll it can take. Though Babil later deleted his statement, the screenshots of the exchange would later be shared time and again on social media, keeping the flame of controversy alive.

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Raghav Juyal reacts to Babil Khan's viral video

After the video went viral, several Bollywood stars like Ananya Panday, Kubbra Sait, Raghav Juyal, and Siddhant Chaturvedi showed their support to Babil. The actor was also given advice from Harshvardhan Rane, who asked Babil to concentrate on his craft and not attend industry events or after-parties to escape from negativity.

As the dust settles, the controversy around Babil Khan is a reminder of the pressures faced by young actors in Bollywood. Regardless of the nature of his outburst (whether it was a misunderstood moment or just a much-needed plea for change), it has since instigated important discussions about mental health, industry shifts, and the importance of truth in cinema.

What’s your take? Did Babil’s video serve as a wake-up call to Bollywood, or was it just another controversy overhyped? Let’s discuss.