Babil Khan has withdrawn from his Sai Rajesh-directed movie, citing ‘unforeseen circumstances’. The decision, which Babil posted on Instagram on May 17, came after their social media controversy. It was also said that the project was a Hindi version of Rajesh’s recently successful Telugu movie, Baby, which received good reviews for its emotional drama.
In his post, he mentioned that he and Sai Rajesh collaborated effectively on the film due to their hard work, shared passion, and mutual respect. Due to circumstances nobody could have expected, the plans weren’t followed through as expected.
Saying that he would be away for now, he prayed for Sai Rajesh sir and the film team, hoping for their success. I know we love each other and will meet and share magical moments one day. He closed the comment section on the post, meaning he did not want to engage in any further discussion on Babil Khan.
Sai Rajesh and Babil Khan’s Viral Video
This news was released after the the actor angered many when he posted emotional videos on Instagram Stories, leading Following the release of these reports, Babil appeared upset and labelled Bollywood as full of fakes.
He also named celebrities like Ananya Panday, Siddhant Chaturvedi, Shanaya Kapoor, Raghav Juyal, Adarsh Gourav, Arjun Kapoor and Arijit Singh. Soon after the videos went viral, many fans speculated whether Babil was emphasising the cruelty that celebrities may have experienced.
After facing criticism, they came back to post a clarification. The statement from his team made it clear that those videos were misinterpreted and that Babil respected the individuals he spoke about because of their work in Indian cinema.
The statement mentioned that, just like others, Babil has days when things are not easy and this was one of them. Panday and Chaturvedi are part of the many celebrities who stood by Babil and expressed support for him in public. “Only Love”, and Chaturvedi sharing a clip of Babil’s raw moment with a message of encouragement.
The explanation disappointed Sai Rajesh, who planned to direct the Bollywood version of Telugu movie Baby. Babil’s team doesn’t think I am clever enough to do all this without a reply, but it doesn’t mean I won’t talk back when needed. How is pressure shaping our attitude? Many say that it was only the mentioned names whom he respected, meaning all his followers are bitter for sticking with him all these years.
In the comments under Rajesh’s post, Babil replied how passionately he was attached to the project. You truly made me miserable. I’ve worked so hard to prepare for this part,” he claimed, listing the two years he spent and all the difficult exercises he faced to be film-ready. Babil clearly said, “I cut my arm for his sake,” revealing that he lived in poor conditions with insects in his facial hair just to please Rajesh. Everyone has wondered why these comments, which surprised so many, were erased from Rajesh’s account along with his own post.
In response to the news, Rajesh published a post on Instagram, complimenting Babil on both his talent and professionalism. Rajesh said, “Of all the talented and hard-working actors I have met, Babil stands out to me in those qualities.” I stand by him when he chooses to prioritise himself and wish him continued success! We are guaranteed to bring about that magic when we are together. Despite everything that happened, Rajesh continued to hope that they could work together again.
The situation has encouraged many to discuss mental health issues in Bollywood, as many are worried about Babil’s condition. He confessed that while acting in Qala (2022), Friday Night Plan (2023), The Railway Men (2023) and most recently Logout, he faced challenges due to his social anxiety and the ongoing stress of trying to match his father’s reputation. During an interview in 2024, he said he was scared of social life in Hollywood and that he dealt with social anxiety. Being by myself is something I prefer. Working on myself is something I enjoy.
Those following the industry say Babil’s withdrawal from the Baby remake will significantly affect the film, as it was gaining prominence following the success of the first film and Rajesh’s fame as the National Award-winning filmmaker behind Colour Photo. The film was expected to be well known, as Babil allegedly landed a main role in the Hindi remake. It is unclear what will happen with the project, since there is no official statement about Rajesh’s purpose in making it.
With Babil taking time away from acting, his supporters are asking the industry to be kinder to young actors as they adjust to fame.
Babil is currently focusing on recovery, so fans still expect his return to acting with the same enthusiasm and sincerity that he showed in his first roles. He mentioned in his farewell note to Rajesh’s team that he knows how much love exists between them. It’s still not certain whether there will be more work from them as a result of their outstanding friendship.
