The eyes, the jawline, the charm—yes, he may look every inch like his father, Saif Ali Khan, but Ibrahim Ali Khan is charting his own course. Gracing the cover of Filmfare's April Issue, Ibrahim brings with him the candour that can light up any room that he walks into, and the headlines that will follow. In his first-ever interview exclusively with Filmfare, he comes across as refreshingly grounded, armed with a sharp sense of humour, and surprisingly composed for someone new to the public gaze. When asked about the chatter around his bond with Palak Tiwari, he simply calls her “a good friend” before flashing a grin. Nervous at first, Ibrahim quickly eases into a heartfelt conversation, reflecting on privilege, pressure, and what it means to grow up in the spotlight.


His debut film, Nadaaniyan, may have received mixed reviews—and its fair share of trolling—but Ibrahim isn’t shying away from any of it. “I was raw,” he admits, “and I have a long way to go.” He also gets candid about his childhood, the weight of his illustrious lineage, and his deep admiration for his mother, Amrita Singh, and his sister, Sara Ali Khan. And when told he was better than his dad in his debut film, Aashiq Awara, his grin widens—like a kid with his favourite candy. While Ibrahim is conscious of the legacy he comes from, he’s also aware of the expectations that come with it.

Reflecting on the mixed reviews of Nadaaniyan, Ibrahim says candidly, “People went in with really high expectations. But it was never meant to be a grand film—it’s a sweet, breezy rom-com you enjoy on a Friday night, chilling in bed. Social media is such a hateful space right now. They tried twisting a lot.”

Addressing his recent controversy involving a Pakistani journalist, he notes, “I know I shouldn’t have reacted, but I’m also new to public scrutiny. That comment about my body felt below the belt. Still, I’ve learned from it—I’ll be more composed going forward. It won’t happen again.”

Sharing his take on how stardom has evolved over the years, he shares, “In 2025, the director and the script are the stars. I genuinely believe we won’t see icons like Ranbir Kapoor, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Saif Ali Khan, or Aamir Khan again. That era is over. Back then, just showing up in front of the camera could make you a star. Today, that doesn’t cut it. I can’t call myself a star—I’m nobody. My work needs to speak for me. I’m here to act, and do good work. That’s what matters now.”

On nepotism, Ibrahim is honest. He highlights, “It’s always been around, but today it’s a louder conversation—probably because of social media. I’m Saif Ali Khan’s son, sure. We get the platform, no doubt. But from there, it’s all on us. Audiences are smart now—they’re not going to pay for a bad movie when they can stream it at home.”

Adding to that, he says, “Saif’s my dad, Sara’s my sister, Sharmila Tagore is my grandmother, and Amrita Singh is my mom... So sometimes, I feel like my opinion doesn’t even count in this debate. But I do understand where people are coming from.”

Talking about the inevitable comparisons to his father, he expresses, “I take it in stride—he’s a good-looking man! You think I’m going to cry about inheriting his face? No chance. I’m proud of who he is and that I’m his son. I keep seeing a reel comparing my debut to Hum Tum, where he won a National Award. You really can’t compare that to this.”

And when he’s not in the spotlight, Ibrahim is “just a chill guy.” He explains, “Cold coffee, FIFA, Call of Duty, Trackmania on the PS5, hanging with my dog and a few close friends—that’s my vibe.”