The Netflix film Nadaaniyan, starring Ibrahim Ali Khan and Khushi Kapoor, hit the streaming platform recently, but has been met with mostly unfavorable feedback. Critics and viewers alike panned the lead actors for their lackluster acting and poor dialogue delivery, sparking a wave of harsh trolling across social media. In response, acclaimed director Hansal Mehta has stepped forward to address the backlash, calling out the relentless criticism aimed at the young stars. He expressed concern over the emotional toll it could take, stating, “It must be traumatising for the young actors.” Mehta also turned the spotlight on the filmmakers, questioning their decision-making by asking, “Did they check for the preparedness of these actors before launching them?” His comments highlight a broader debate about the pressures faced by newcomers in the industry and the responsibilities of those behind the camera.
In a conversation with ETimes, Hansal Mehta said, “I do feel that people are being very harsh and unfair. What is sad is that, have we checked for the preparedness of these children before they have got their break? The kind of comments that people are passing are in terrible taste. I’m sure it must be traumatising for the young people. But we forget that their parents at one time, a lot of their parents at one time made very awkward beginnings too. They also had awkward debuts. It’s just that they were just not so much in the public eye then, as people are now, due to social media.”
He further pointed out that it is unfair to assume that somebody will be good just because they come from a certain lineage. “So, in that sense, it is even unfair to launch them by giving them a false sense of entitlement. That entitlement should come from, I think, preparedness,” he said.
Mehta also shared an anecdote about reaching out to one of the young actors for a project that was a bit unconventional for someone just starting out. However, the actor’s advisors had a different vision, insisting that he or she should stick to a more traditional path. They argued that the actor deserved a grand, fast-paced debut, complete with the kind of lavish ‘mounting’ that launched stars like Kumar Gaurav, Sunny Deol, or Hrithik Roshan into the spotlight. Mehta’s recollection sheds light on the clash between creative choices and industry expectations for newcomers.
Mehta then urged young actors to simply keep their head down and focus on their work. “The moment they perform well in something, no matter how well or badly it does at the box office, they will be respected. Their first target should be to get respect with their work,” he said.
Saif Ali Khan and Amrita Singh’s son Ibrahim Ali Khan made his acting debut with the film Nadaaniyan. Meanwhile, Khushi has starred in 2 films before this – The Archies and Loveyapa. Helmed by Shauna Gautam, the film also stars Archana Puran Singh, Meezaan Jafri, Dia Mirza, Jugal Hansraj, Suniel Shetty and Mahima Chaudhry.
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