The film Nadaaniyan, which was released on Netflix earlier this year, was met with appalling reception. Khushi Kapoor and debutante Ibrahim Ali Khan found themselves being attacked for their performances, while the film’s writing and direction also drew criticism. Through the noise, many people from Bollywood have shown support for the young stars, including Priyanka Chopra.
In an interview with GQ India, Ibrahim talked about his debut in detail, and also revealed that Priyanka congratulated him on his first film. “Priyanka Chopra sent me a very sweet message saying she watched the film and thinks I have a bright future. She said I have to hold my head high and keep grinding and that I must grow a thick skin. Coming from someone as accomplished as she is, I felt really comforted and motivated,” added Ibrahim.
Apart from Priyanka, celebrities like Dia Mirza, Jugal Hansraj, Hansal Mehta and Sara Ali Khan have also voiced their concerns over the degree to which Ibrahim and Khushi were targeted. In an interview with the Bombay Times, Dia, who played Ibrahim’s character’s mother in the film, blamed the “eat the privileged” culture. “I don’t agree with targeting someone on a personal level. I understand that everyone is entitled to their opinion, but a line should be drawn if it starts to affect the mental health of the people involved. They are young actors, and this trend of attacking those who come from privilege is not right,” she said.
Filmmaker Hansal Mehta called the online bashing of the film “traumatising” and in “poor taste”. He added that even their parents had “awkward debuts” back in the day but were spared because social media didn’t exist back then. The director also blamed the industry for fast-tracking star kids into movies and pointed out that actors who come from a film background should first focus on gaining respect in the industry.
Directed by another debutante, Shauna Gautam, the cast of Nadaaniyan also included Suniel Shetty, Jugal Hansraj and Mahima Chaudhary.