In the often unforgiving world of cinema, debutants are frequently subjected to scrutiny that goes far beyond constructive criticism. Ibrahim Ali Khan, the son of actors Saif Ali Khan and Amrita Singh, recently found himself in the spotlight—not for his acting debut in Nadaaniyan, but for the backlash he received.

A Pakistani film critic named Tamur Iqbal openly mocked Ibrahim’s acting and even took a dig at his physical appearance, ridiculing the size of his nose. The critique, laced with personal jabs, triggered a fiery social media response from Ibrahim, who defended himself in a profanity-laced message that quickly made headlines.

Now, Palak Tiwari—an actress and Ibrahim’s rumoured girlfriend—has spoken out in his defense during an interview with journalist Nayandeep Rakshit. Addressing the controversy, Palak shed light on the disturbing culture of body-shaming and the relentless trolling that young actors are forced to navigate.
Palak began by pointing out the harsh reality of celebrity life. “If there’s one thing that seems to sell better than fame itself, it’s tearing famous people down,” she remarked. According to her, we are living in an era where negativity directed at public figures is not only common but often celebrated. “There has always been criticism, but now it’s more widespread, more cruel, and absolutely unfiltered,” she said. She acknowledged that actors must earn public respect, but emphasized that such expectations must come with fairness and empathy.

She then addressed the paradox faced by many in the spotlight: “First, people obsess over how we look. Then when someone chooses to make a change—be it surgery or any cosmetic adjustment—the same crowd shames them for it.” According to Palak, actors are trapped in a cruel cycle. They are judged for their natural appearance, and when they respond to that judgment through enhancement or correction, they’re accused of being fake or setting a bad example. “It’s a loop no one can win,” she explained. “They’ll criticise your features, your acting, your body type—and if they can’t find a flaw, they’ll just say you’re undeserving or lucky.”

The original controversy stemmed from Tamur Iqbal’s Instagram post in March, where he belittled Ibrahim’s performance and made a derogatory comment about his nose. Ibrahim’s response was swift and filled with fury, targeting not just the critique but the critic’s appearance and character in a scathing message.Rumors of a relationship between Palak and Ibrahim have swirled since 2022, after they were seen together multiple times around Mumbai. Though both have publicly maintained they are just friends, their continued appearances together keep the speculation alive. Most recently, Ibrahim was seen playfully bonding with Palak’s younger brother during a screening of her horror-comedy The Bhootnii.Professionally, Palak is on the rise. She starred in The Bhootnii, directed by Sidhaant Sachdev and backed by producer Sanjay Dutt. The film also featured actors Mouni Roy, Sunny Singh, and Dutt himself in key roles.