Babil Khan - son of late Bollywood icon Irrfan Khan and writer Sutapa Sikdar - has deleted his Instagram account following the circulation of an emotional video in which the young actor broke down while speaking about the challenges he has faced within the Hindi film industry.
Babil, who has steadily earned critical acclaim since his debut in Qala, had recently shared a video online—now deleted—in which he appeared visibly distressed and tearful.
In the video, clips of which surfaced on Reddit early Sunday, the actor alleged bullying and superficiality within the industry, naming several well-known actors and musicians.
“What I mean to say is that I just want you guys to know that there are people like Shanaya Kapoor, Ananya Panday, Arjun Kapoor, Siddhant Chaturvedi, Raghav Juyal, Adarsh Gourav and Arijit Singh. There are so many more names. Bollywood is so f*****. Bollywood is so screwed,” he said, fighting back tears.
He went on to describe Bollywood as “the most fakest, fakest, fakest industry I’ve ever been a part of,” before adding with a bittersweet smile that there are still “a few people that want Bollywood to be better.”
The video has prompted a wave of concern among fans, many of whom took to social media to express support for the actor. Some expressed alarm over his emotional state and urged him to prioritise his mental health.
Shortly after the video was removed, it was discovered that Babil had deleted his entire Instagram account. No official statement has been issued by the actor or his representatives.
In a recent interview with The Hindu, Babil had expressed his discomfort with social media and its effects on mental well-being. “Our generation is facing a numbness because of the burden of information and our desire to be wanted, our desire to be loved,” he said. Reflecting on his upbringing, he mentioned that his parents consciously kept him away from gadgets. “I got my first smartphone when I was 21,” he said, describing his childhood as “growing up in a jungle.”
He added, “We always judge social media as something either good or bad when it is really about finding a balance. In a capitalistic world, it’s all business and you have to sell. That’s what this film (Log Out) looks into.”
Babil was last seen in the April release Logout, a cyber-thriller that received favourable reviews. He has previously been praised for his performances in Qala, Friday Night Plan, and The Railway Men.
Marking the death anniversary of his father earlier this year, Babil had posted a poetic note that read: “With you, without you. Life goes on, With me, without me... I will hug you so tight, and I will cry, Then we'll laugh, just like we used to. I miss you.”
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