Babil Khan, son of the late actor Irrfan Khan and writer Sutapa Sikdar, is currently enjoying the success of his latest film, Logout, which is streaming on Zee5. Following his debut in Qala, Babil has gone on to star in other projects like The Railway Men and Friday Night Plan. In an exclusive conversation with India Today, Babil opened up about his deep connection to his mother's validation and how it plays a crucial role in his life and career.
Babil shared a heartfelt reflection on the importance of parental approval, especially from mothers. He mentioned how his father, Irrfan Khan, sought validation from his own mother throughout his illustrious career. Babil believes that this need for a mother's approval is inherent in sons and can serve as a major source of motivation, shaping who they become. "I think as a child, our parents' validation means everything. Baba's entire career... he was seeking his mother's validation. That was the crux of his motivation," Babil said.
In Logout, Babil plays a role that addresses the impact of social media on young minds and stresses the importance of maintaining boundaries in the digital age. Reflecting on his own relationship with social media, Babil explained that while he used to dive in with an open heart, embracing both love and criticism, he has learned to draw some personal boundaries. He emphasized the importance of maintaining authenticity, stating that being fake would be detrimental to his soul. "When your work speaks for itself, that matters. You have to keep parts of your soul to be able to interact with real people and even perform characters," he noted.
Babil also shared that he got his first smartphone at the age of 22 during his college years, after having used a basic 'dabba' phone before that. His friends even set up his Instagram account to stay connected with him. Despite the fame that comes with being a public figure, Babil has chosen to keep his circle small, with only two close friends—his acting mentor and his diving instructor.
