The internet is a peculiar place — it provides you with a platform, but not always the elegance to fall. One sleepy Sunday morning, actor Babil Khan, son of late Irrfan Khan, uploaded a raw, tearful video that shook social media. Babil, tearfully and clearly distraught, was brutally honest about his feelings of loneliness in the film industry. In a matter of hours, the video was everywhere — broken down, shared, argued about. And then, just as quickly, he disappeared from Instagram, deleting his account and leaving fans in an uproar.
What followed was a hurricane of speculation, gossip threads, and hot takes. But behind the headlines and gossip was a richer narrative — of a young artist attempting to carve out his niche in a world that too frequently gets sincerity confused with spectacle.
The Cry for Connection: What Babil Really Meant
In the since-deleted video, Babil did not lash out as much as he opened up. While some took it to be an attack on co-actors, the reality, as explained later, was much more genuine. Babil had made the video to show solidarity and appreciation towards artists he admires — including Ananya Panday, Shanaya Kapoor, Gaurav Adarsh, Arjun Kapoor, Raghav Juyal, and Arijit Singh.
But in a world so accustomed to drama for page views, his tears were swiftly bundled as a scandal. Critics dubbed it a “meltdown.” Tabloids referred to it as “a swipe.” And social media, always looking for a spectacle, started making conclusions from pieces.
But Babil came back — quietly, elegantly, and with an explanation. He went back online at Instagram and re-shared a statement made by actor Kubbra Sait, stating again that the video had been “extremely misinterpreted.
“I was attempting to give support,” Babil posted, tagging the peers he had named previously. “I don’t have the strength to indulge further, but I do this as a duty for my peers whom I greatly respect.”
A Son's Struggle in His Father's Shadow
As the son of Irrfan Khan, one of India’s most respected actors, there comes a heavy responsibility. Babil has forever balanced between creating his identity and respecting his father’s legacy. And in that journey, he’s never been afraid to speak of his mental health, artistic challenges, or the dilemmas of being a “star kid” with a heart that doesn’t seek stardom.
This wasn’t Babil’s first emotional post. He’s penned heart-wrenching tributes to his father over the years, pondered the state of grief, and shared the trials of slogging through the glamour and politics of Bollywood as a sensitive outsider. Sunday’s video, therefore, wasn’t a publicity stunt — the next installment in his long arc of authentic self-expression.
Friends Speak Out: Siddhant and Raghav Come to the Fore
When emotions are low, friends can be everything. Babil discovered his tribe in Siddhant Chaturvedi and Raghav Juyal, both of whom stepped forward with public displays of solidarity.
Siddhant, who himself is known for his considerate presence in the industry, put up a brief clip of Babil with the following words:
“Mujhe itihaas likhna hai, kitaab nahi.”
I want to write history, not a book.
He followed it up with a powerful note aimed at the very forces that had misread Babil’s message:
“We love to hate and hate to love, is this what we’ve come to? All of us are working hard to bring drama to your screens. stop looking for drama in our private lives.”
Raghav Juyal also showed his love for Babil, terming him “family” in a moving post. He reposted the team’s official statement, taking a stand with the actor.
These were not just celebrity endorsements. They were acts of care, of brotherhood, in an industry where one is pitted against the other. They brought to mind that there are real people, with real emotions behind the glitz of cinema.
The Family's Statement: A Gentle Reminder of Humanity
While rumors ran amok, Babil’s team made a statement — not to issue damage control, but to bring the story back down to truth and compassion.
“Babil Khan has gained immense affection and admiration for his work, and also for his honesty about his mental health process. Like any other human, Babil can have bad days. He is okay and will be better soon.”
The note also explained the motive behind the viral video:
“He was genuinely recognizing some of his peers whom he feels are contributing positively. His praise was genuine, passionate, and an attempt to re-establish credibility within the field.”
This utterance wasn’t PR for PR’s sake — it was a testament to Babil’s character, and to the value of giving room for fallibility, even when under scrutiny.
When Social Media Misses the Message
Babil’s experience is a case study in how vulnerability gets twisted in the social media age. What was intended to be a celebration of others turned into something contentious. A shout of admiration was misconstrued as an accusation. And a mourning artist was left at the mercy of trending hashtags.
It’s a question — when did we stop letting people have the benefit of the doubt? When did we begin regarding honesty as a PR stunt?
In our haste to scroll, share, and guess, we sometimes lose sight that actors are human beings, too — not simply faces on TV, but bruised hearts, doubtful minds, and lives that don’t come to an end when the director yells “cut.”.
Mental Health in the Limelight: A Long Overdue Discussion
One of the quieter but more significant elements of this episode is the ongoing discussion regarding mental health in entertainment. Babil has never shied away from discussing his emotional battles — a rare virtue in an industry that still rewards stoicism and glamour over vulnerability.
The pressure to perform every time, to remain relevant, to live up to expectations while remaining faithful to your craft — it’s draining. And for someone like Babil, whose success wasn’t handed down but worked for through introspection and toil, the journey is isolating.
What this episode has done is bring out the need for empathy. We must end the sensationalism of mental health. We need to make space for public personalities to be human — to make mistakes, to cry, to withdraw, and to come back.
Art from the Heart: Babil's Bigger Mission
Regardless of the confusion, Babil had his point in mind. He intended to spotlight artists he thinks are making relevant contributions —artists who put heart into cinema, who dispel stereotypes, who are concerned more with craft than with glamour.
Actors such as Ananya Panday and Shanaya Kapoor, usually condemned as nepotism products, were recognized by Babil not for their bloodlines, but for their toil and honesty. So were Raghav Juyal, Siddhant Chaturvedi, Adarsh Gourav, and Arijit Singh — artists with soul in their work.
Amidst a crowded space filled with competition, Babil opted for appreciation. During a moment of sorrow, he opted for sympathy. That reveals a lot about his values, his vision, and his vulnerability.
Closing Thoughts: Let's Learn to Listen
Babil Khan’s tearful Sunday wasn’t scandalous — it was sincere. His emotional message wasn’t one of blame — it was one of belonging. And his return to Instagram wasn’t damage control — it was bravery.
As consumers of narrative, we also need to be caretakers of context. Let’s not make assumptions based on 30-second clips. Let’s not set artists against each other for entertainment. Let’s not forget that behind every trending name is a living, breathing person who is living the messiness of life like the rest of us.
As Babil would say, “I want to write history, not a book.” May that history be one where compassion speaks more loudly than controversy, and art is valued greater than algorithms.
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