‘I don’t have friends…at all’: Babil Khan mentioned not having friends in Bollywood before tearful video went viral, expert on feeling invisible in a high pressure industry

Shortly before deactivating his Instagram account, he didn’t hold back in his criticism. “Bollywood is the most fakest, fakest, fakest industry that I’ve ever ever been a part of. But there are few people that want Bollywood to be better…I got to show to you so much more, so much more, so much more. I have so much more to give you,” he said. 

Naming contemporaries like Shanaya Kapoor, Ananya Panday, Arjun Kapoor, Siddhant Chaturvedi, Raghav Juyal, Adarsh Gourav, and Arijit Singh, he added, “What I mean to say is that, I just want you guys to know that there are people like… so many more names. Bollywood is so f***ed. Bollywood is so, so rude.” The videos left many viewers worried about his mental health and the emotional pressures he may be facing.

In an interview with Filmfare, during a conversation about his recent film Logout, Babil revealed that he had no friends in the industry. When asked who his 4 am friend in the industry was, he shared, “I don’t have friends…at all. I like to be alone, and also that gives me the energy to be able to interact with people.” 

Meanwhile, the actor’s family released a statement that provided some context to the video. “Like anyone else, Babil is allowed to have difficult days and this was one of them. We want to reassure all his well-wishers that he is safe and will be feeling better soon. That said, a video of Babil has been widely misinterpreted and taken out of context,” read the statement.

As of today, the actor, who has over 1.2 million followers, is back on Instagram and thanked all his friends including Kubbra Sait, Raghav Juyal and Adarsh Gourav for showing their support. 

His PR is gonna have a hard time tomorrow
byu/Anxious_Scratch2449 inBollyBlindsNGossip

But, how can prolonged exposure to emotional invalidation impact a young person’s mental health when they’re still forming their professional identity?

Gurleen Baruah, existential psychotherapist at That Culture Thing, tells indianexpress.com, “Yes, it can have a deep impact. When a young person is still figuring out who they are — both as a person and a professional — being in an environment that feels fake, dismissive, or emotionally cold can create a constant sense of not belonging. It’s like walking into a room repeatedly where you’re either invisible or misunderstood. Over time, this kind of emotional invalidation chips away at one’s self-worth.”

Especially for sensitive, creative minds like Babil’s, this experience can lead to a “quiet inner loneliness.” You may be surrounded by people, but still feel like an outsider — looked at, but not truly seen. When you’re young and still building your identity, you need spaces that feel safe, honest, and human. 

Need for affirmation in high-pressure environments

Baruah stresses that at its core, this kind of outburst often comes from emotional exhaustion and existential discomfort. “It’s not about ego — it’s about longing. The longing to matter, to be taken seriously, not to have to keep proving your sincerity in a space that often rewards performance over authenticity. And that’s a very human need — not just for fame or applause, but for honest acknowledgment: I see you. I get it. You don’t have to shrink here,” she concludes.