In the glare of fame and high expectations, debutant actor Ibrahim Ali Khan has chosen honesty over pretence. The son of actors Saif Ali Khan and Amrita Singh, Ibrahim faced both praise and criticism after the release of his debut film Nadaaniyan. But few knew of the personal battle he has been fighting since birth — a struggle with speech caused by a medical complication.
In a candid interview with GQ India, Ibrahim revealed that a severe case of jaundice shortly after birth had long-lasting effects on his health. “Soon after I was born, I had very bad jaundice and that went straight to my brainstem,” he shared. “I went on to lose quite a bit of my hearing and that impacted my speech.”
For Ibrahim, speech has never been second nature. He spoke openly about undergoing years of therapy and coaching to improve. “My speech is something that I’ve had to work hard on since I was a child, with coaches and therapists,” he explained. “It’s not perfect; I’m still working really hard on it.”
Despite these challenges, his parents made the bold decision to send him to boarding school in England — a move that initially felt overwhelming but turned out to be a pivotal chapter in his life. “Being Indian, it was hard to fit in, but I had the best four years of my life. I played sports, made new friends and learnt a lot,” he said. “My speech issue was so bad back then, and the move placed me in this new space where I had to survive.”
While Ibrahim is aware of the privilege that comes with his lineage, he’s also careful not to downplay the emotional and mental strength required to thrive in unfamiliar spaces. “I don’t mean to sound like some rich kid whining, but when you’re 14 and on your own, boarding school isn’t easy. It’s very strict,” he noted. “Yet, it shaped my character and changed my perspective on life.”
Now navigating the film industry under the scrutiny of public and media lenses, Ibrahim’s story stands out not just because of his famous last name, but because of his quiet resilience. His honesty is a reminder that beneath the glitz of celebrity lives are human stories of perseverance — and his is only just beginning.
