Aamir Khan Says He 'Discouraged' Junaid Khan From Learning Acting: 'Want Him To Be...'

News18

2 days ago

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Aamir Khan addressed the backlash received by Junaid Khan in Loveyapa.
Junaid Khan, son of Bollywood actor Aamir Khan, made his theatrical debut with the romantic comedy Loveyapa, co-starring Khushi Kapoor. Directed by Advait Chandan, the film was marketed as a Gen Z love story, promising a fresh take on modern relationships. However, upon its release in February 2025, Loveyapa faced significant backlash, primarily due to its perceived lack of originality and the ongoing nepotism debate in the industry. In a recent chat, Aamir Khan addressed this backlash and revealed he had advised Junaid not to formally learn acting.
Aamir Khan told Raj Shamani, 'When Loveyapa released, I really liked the film and thought Junaid had done a good job. The role he played was quite different from his real personality. Junaid has this quality — he transforms into the character. I think uss film ko bohot negative backlash aaya. It was heavily trolled, nepotism mein bohot chali gayi ki yeh nepo kids hai (I think the film received a lot of negative backlash. It was heavily trolled and got dragged into the nepotism debate, labelled as a 'nepo kid' film)."
The actor added, 'But Junaid and I are not like that. Until now, I've not interfered in his career, nor do I want to. In fact, I discouraged him from formally learning acting." Aamir also mentioned that he is now more focused on Junaid's success. 'I want him to succeed, to be happy, and to get the recognition he deserves for the work he's doing. As a father, that's a very strong emotion," he said.
Loveyapa's promotional material, including its title track 'Loveyapa Ho Gaya," received widespread criticism for its outdated visuals and awkward choreography. Social media users described the song as 'cringe" and 'painful to watch," with some questioning the authenticity of the performance. Loveyapa also faced criticism for its perceived lack of originality, being a remake of the 2022 Tamil film Love Today. This led to discussions about the industry's reliance on remakes and the challenges faced by newcomers attempting to establish their own identities amidst the nepotism debate.
After Maharaj and Loveyapa, Junaid Khan will not star in Ek Din. The upcoming film is backed by Aamir Khan and also stars Sai Pallavi.
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