In an emotional turn of events that sent shockwaves through the Indian entertainment industry, actor Babil Khan — son of the late cinematic icon Irrfan Khan — posted a series of emotional Instagram stories on May 4, breaking down in tears and calling Bollywood the “fakest industry” he has ever been part of. The posts, raw and visibly filled with pain, led fans and colleagues alike to express concern over his mental and emotional well-being. Shortly after the videos surfaced, Babil deleted the posts and temporarily deactivated his Instagram account, further amplifying public anxiety.
The footage showed a deeply vulnerable Babil, struggling to articulate the weight he’s been carrying. “Bollywood is the most fakest, fakest, fakest industry that I’ve ever ever been a part of,” he said, repeating the word as if to underline his disillusionment. Yet amid the emotional breakdown, he expressed admiration for some individuals in the industry. “There are few people that want Bollywood to be better… I have so much more to give you,” he added tearfully.
He mentioned several celebrities by name — Ananya Panday, Shanaya Kapoor, Arjun Kapoor, Siddhant Chaturvedi, Raghav Juyal, Adarsh Gourav, and Arijit Singh — which stirred confusion. Many online users assumed he was calling these individuals out for toxicity, adding fuel to a narrative that he was naming alleged wrongdoers in the industry. However, this interpretation was later debunked.
Clarifications from Babil’s Team and Family
In response to the swirling controversy, Babil’s team and family issued an official statement aiming to calm speculations and provide clarity. They explained that the video was taken out of context and did not represent a personal attack on the individuals named. Rather, Babil had intended to highlight these celebrities as beacons of change — people who, in his view, embody integrity and passion in a demanding and often disillusioning industry.
The family also emphasized that Babil is safe, taking a break, and being cared for. “Like anyone else, Babil is allowed to have difficult days — and this was one of them,” the statement read. “He admires the mentioned artists for their passion and efforts to restore credibility and heart in the industry.”
This wasn’t the first time Babil had openly spoken about his struggles. He has previously expressed how the weight of living up to his father’s legacy often collides with the emotional turbulence of a demanding career. Just a week before the incident, Babil had posted a heartfelt tribute to his late father on Irrfan Khan’s fifth death anniversary — a poetic reflection on grief, healing, and love that may have foreshadowed his recent emotional state.
Bollywood Reacts: Support Overflows
Several members of the film industry quickly rallied behind Babil. Ananya Panday, whom he had named in the video, reposted Babil’s now-vanished story and wrote, “Only love and good energy for you Babil, always in your corner.” Siddhant Chaturvedi, another actor mentioned by Babil, took a more philosophical route, sharing a video of Babil quietly writing with the caption: “Mujh itihaas likhna hai, kitaab nahi” (I want to write history, not a book).
Siddhant also condemned the media and online community for sensationalizing what was clearly a moment of emotional vulnerability. “Stop looking for drama here. All of us are working hard to bring drama to you on your screens,” he wrote, urging people to pause before forming judgments. “Koshish jaari hai hamari taraf se, aur aap bhi koshish karein ki koi bhi judgement dene se pehle ek baar soch lein,” he concluded.
Raghav Juyal, another artist named in the video, stood firmly by Babil’s side, referring to him as “family.” He also revealed that Babil had suffered an anxiety attack while preparing for a shoot in Hyderabad, and had returned home to rest and recover.
Conflict with Filmmaker Sai Rajesh Adds to Turmoil
However, the situation took another turn when filmmaker Sai Rajesh, known for his work in regional cinema, publicly criticized the statement issued by Babil’s team. The director’s post implied that those not named by Babil had been sidelined or disrespected, saying, “The rest of us are just fools for standing by him all this while?”
What followed was a distressing response from Babil himself. In now-deleted comments, Babil accused Rajesh of betrayal and revealed, “I slit my f***ing wrist for him.” He further described enduring “physical atrocity” and unsanitary conditions in an effort to meet the director’s expectations. “I had bugs in my beard because he needed that in the character,” he said. The outburst, raw and unfiltered, was later removed — but it captured the fragility and emotional burnout that can come with deep creative immersion and unmet expectations.
The episode has raised pressing concerns about the mental health of young artists in Bollywood, who often wrestle with public scrutiny, legacy pressure, unstable careers, and emotional isolation — all under the glaring spotlight of fame.
A Moment of Reckoning for Bollywood
Babil Khan’s emotional breakdown is not just a fleeting controversy — it’s a call for introspection within the industry. In a space where vulnerability is often masked by glamour, Babil’s public struggle has unearthed larger truths about emotional exhaustion, the complexities of fame, and the need for systemic support for artists.
He has since restored his Instagram account and thanked his friends for their support, signaling a step toward healing. But for an industry that often brushes mental health under the red carpet, Babil’s pain has forced a difficult but necessary conversation into the spotlight.
If there’s one thing this episode makes clear, it’s that behind the bright lights of Bollywood are young lives struggling to hold on. Perhaps now, more than ever, empathy must take center stage.
