Bollywood filmmaker Karan Johar has finally addressed the backlash surrounding Nadaaniyan, the Netflix film that marked the acting debut of Ibrahim Ali Khan and featured Khushi Kapoor in a lead role.
Released on March 7, 2025, the romantic drama was widely criticized by both critics and audiences for its weak performances and dialogues, leading to significant trolling of the star kids.
At the trailer launch of his upcoming production Akaal, Karan was asked about the negative response to Nadaaniyan. Defending the young actors, he quoted lyrics from a classic Bollywood song:
“Main bas ye hi kahunga, ek purani film ka alfaaz hai ki kuch toh log kahenge, logon ka kaam hai kehna… chhodo bekaar ki baatein, beet na jaaye raina.”
He acknowledged that criticism is a natural part of the industry but reminded people that these actors are someone’s children, and their parents also see these hurtful comments. Karan expressed that while he respects critics, some of the trolling and personal attacks crossed the line.
“Kabhi kabhi trollers karte hain, voh bhi benaam log hain, bechare unka apna problem hai, voh hum par nikal rahe hain. Unke liye mujhe bas taras aata hai aur kuch nahi,” he said.
Despite the criticism, several industry figures, including Sonu Sood and Hansal Mehta, have come to the defense of the young actors, calling attention to the harsh treatment of newcomers. Director Vikram Bhatt also predicted that Ibrahim Ali Khan would eventually become a major star in the future.
Directed by Shauna Gautam, Nadaaniyan aimed to capture the essence of first love but struggled to resonate with audiences, even with its OTT release. The film’s failure sparked renewed debates about nepotism in Bollywood and whether star kids should be given prominent roles without proving their acting abilities.
