When Sutapa revealed Babil was ‘almost in depression’

On a recent Sunday, Babil Khan, the son of late actor Irrfan Khan, left many shocked and concerned after he posted a deeply emotional video on social media. In the now-deleted clip, the 26-year-old actor was seen crying and speaking about how hurt he felt by the way Bollywood treats people. His words were filled with frustration and sadness, and it quickly became a talking point online. Soon after the video went viral, fans began worrying about Babil’s mental health, especially because this wasn’t the first time his emotional struggles had come to light.

When Sutapa made a heartfelt plea: ‘Please leave my child alone’
Just a few months ago, Babil’s mother, writer and producer

Sutapa Sikdar

, had opened up about how her son was finding it difficult to deal with the pressure of being Irrfan Khan’s son. Speaking at an event in Lucknow in December 2024, Sutapa had revealed that Babil was facing an overwhelming amount of pressure and was “almost in depression.”

“There’s a lot of pressure on Babil, and I am not okay with it. This pressure should not be there. Irrfan never had that pressure, and when you don’t put any pressure on yourself, your individuality comes out. It’s not only about work but also about losing the father figure, he is almost in depression. Top that with this stress and compression all the time. As a mother, I feel, ‘Please leave my child alone’,” she said.
She also added, “Also, he is very vulnerable and does not have a fighter's spirit. His father was very strong and so am I, but genetically it must have come from somewhere.” These moving words from Sutapa showed just how hard it can be for star kids who are constantly compared to their famous parents.

Family and team step in: ‘He is safe and will be feeling better soon.”
Coming back to Babil’s viral video, after the clip made waves online and fans raised concerns, Babil’s team and family released an official statement. They wanted to make it clear that the video had been misunderstood by many.
The statement read, “Over the past few years, Babil Khan has earned immense love and appreciation for his work, as well as for his openness about his mental health journey. Like anyone else, Babil is allowed to have difficult days - and this was one of them. We want to reassure all his well-wishers that he is safe and will be feeling better soon.”
The statement also explained the real intention behind the names Babil had mentioned in the video: “In the clip, Babil was sincerely acknowledging a few of his peers whom he believes are making meaningful contributions to the evolving landscape of Indian cinema. His mention of artists like Ananya Panday, Shanaya Kapoor, Siddhant Chaturvedi, Raghav Juyal, Adarsh Gourav, Arjun Kapoor, and Arijit Singh came from a place of genuine admiration - for their authenticity, passion, and efforts to restore credibility and heart in the industry.”

Babil shares father Irrfan Khan’s film 'Madaari' scene
Babil Khan shared a touching scene from his late father Irrfan Khan’s film 'Madaari' on his Instagram stories. In the clip, Irrfan’s character breaks down in tears but is told to “be a man” and have courage, with the comforting words that everything will be fine. Babil posted this after his own emotional video recently went viral, showing him in tears. By sharing this moment, the 'The Logout' actor seemed to be reminding himself to stay strong and resilient. The post reflects the powerful bond he still feels with his father and how he draws strength from his father’s work.