Ibrahim Ali Khan and Khushi Kapoor are gearing up for their big Bollywood debuts with Nadaaniyan, but their first dance performance from the film has left netizens unimpressed.
At a Netflix event in Mumbai on 3 February, the duo performed to their film’s first song, Ishq Mein, in what was meant to be a grand introduction. However, after the video surfaced online, audiences were quick to criticise their dance skills, with many describing the performance as “stiff” and “awkward.”
A Reddit user shared the clip, sparking mixed reactions. “Ibrahim is as stiff as cardboard. He can barely dance here,” one user commented, while another joked, “Lol… at one point, it looked like he was trying to strangle her.” Criticising Khushi, a user wrote, “She looks so awkward here,” while another added, “I’m getting secondhand embarrassment watching both of them.” Someone else remarked, “What in the high school talent show is this?”
An X (formerly Twitter) user compared Ibrahim to his father, Saif Ali Khan, saying, “Ibrahim looks just like his dad. Both aren’t good at dancing, but maybe Ibrahim knows how to act. Khushi moves so awkwardly.” Meanwhile, an Instagram user drew comparisons to the earlier generation of nepo babies, commenting, “Back when star kids like Alia, Varun, and Sid actually had the energy and passion to promote their films.”
Sony Music India, the film’s music label, posted the song on social media, writing, “Hum phassne wale hai, inke ishq mein! Introducing Ibrahim Ali Khan and Khushi Kapoor in this love story for a new generation. Nadaaniyan is coming soon, only on Netflix. Ishq Mein song out now!”
Reddit users had a field day reacting to the song, with one commenting, “Ibrahim is giving peak romcom Saifu vibes.” Another joked, “Looks like AI-generated Saif romancing a random person.”
Produced by Karan Johar, Apoorva Mehta, and Somen Misra under Dharmatic Entertainment, and directed by Shauna Gautam, Nadaaniyan also stars Mahima Chaudhary, Suniel Shetty, Dia Mirza, and Jugal Hansraj in key roles.
The film’s synopsis teases: “A South Delhi diva, a middle-class overachiever, and one outrageous plan: hire him as her fake boyfriend to save her squad. But when real feelings crash their party, can they handle the mess of falling in love?”
With a modern take on romance driven by digital interactions, Nadaaniyan is set to release on Netflix in 2025. Whether the film will impress audiences more than its first dance number remains to be seen.