Hansal Mehta talks about backlash on Ibrahim Ali Khan and Khushi Kapoor for Nadaaniyan

The director said it must be “traumatising” for the star kids facing the backlash and blamed the stars’ advisors.

Hansal Mehta recently spoke about the backlash that Ibrahim Ali Khan and Khushi Kapoor received for their Netflix film Nadaaniyan. He blamed the filmmakers and actors’ advisors for defending the two young actors amid the harsh criticism.

Hansal Mehta defends Ibrahim Ali Khan and Khushi Kapoor.

Ibrahim Ali Khan debuted with Netflix film and Karan Johar-backed Nadaaniyan alongside Khushi Kapoor. However, netizens and audiences harshly trolled their acting skills and dialogue delivery. Speaking with ETimes, filmmaker Hansal Mehta defended the star kids and described the comments about them as being “in terrible taste.”

Hansal Mehta defended the star kids.

When asked about his views on the backlash received by the star kids for Nadaaniyan, the filmmaker 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 emphasised that those responsible for commissioning, producing and directing films should ensure that actors and their crew are adequately prepared before launching them. He said it is unfair to assume that someone will excel in acting solely because of their lineage.

The filmmaker slams the actors’ advisors.

He said, “They want to be launched by a big banner, irrespective of whether they have the big idea. They want that big banner, they want a big daddy to be advising them all the time. I feel sad when I see them being ridiculed by people. And my only plea to them is to keep their head down, focus on their work. The moment they perform well in something, no matter how well or badly done at the box office, they will be respected. Their first target should be to get respect with their work.”