Hansal Mehta defends Khushi Kapoor and Ibrahim Ali Khan amid backlash against ‘Nadaaniyan’: Insults will traumatise the actors

Director Hansal Mehta has supported Khushi Kapoor and Ibrahim Ali Khan amid criticism of ‘Nadaaniyan’, emphasising the importance of proper training for rookie actors

Director Hansal Mehta has come in support of actors Khushi Kapoor and Ibrahim Ali Khan amid criticism against the latest Hindi romantic drama Nadaaniyan. Streaming on Netflix, the movie is directed by Shauna Gautam.

Nadaaniyan was slammed by people for “poor chemistry between the lead pair and lacklustre performances.” In an interview with ET Times, the Scam 1992 and Scoop director said comments insulting the actors have been in “poor taste.”

Nadaaniyan, which dropped on Netflix on March 07, 2025, is about a girl from an affluent family who engages a middle-class boy as her boyfriend to maintain her social status. With time, they tend to fall for each other, leading to complex situations. The movie is the debut of Ibrahim Ali Khan, son of Saif Ali Khan, and the third project of Khushi Kapoor, daughter of producer Boney Kapoor and actor Sridevi.

Hansal Mehta said that youngsters and debutants must be wary of choosing projects, adding that directors must provide necessary training and guidance to rookie actors. The filmmaker said even the parents of young actors coming from popular film families also starred in forgettable debuts.

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Those who commission these movies must have better idea about the preparedness of the cast and crew, he said. “You cannot just assume that somebody will be good because they come from a certain lineage.” Hansal Mehta also slammed advisors who convince young actors about “high-speed entry into the industry.”