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Junaid Khan (born 2 June 1993) is an Indian actor known for his work on stage as well as in Hindi films. The son of actor Aamir Khan, he began his career in various theatre productions and made his lead debut playing Karsandas Mulji in the period drama film Maharaj (2024).
Early life and education
Junaid Khan was born to the Hindi film actor, Aamir Khan, and his first wife, Reena Dutta, in 1993.[1] He has a younger sister, Ira.[2][3] He has Pashtun-Arab ancestry from his paternal side, and Bengali ancestry from the maternal side.[4][5]
He studied at the H.R. College of Commerce and Economics in Mumbai and at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York.[6]
Career
Theatre
Khan began his acting career on stage, with a role in Quasar Thakore-Padamsee’s adaptation of Bertolt Brecht’s play Mother Courage and Her Children in 2017.[7] He then played the lead role of a slave in his sister, Ira's theatre production of Medea, at the Prithvi Theatre in 2019.[6][8]
In 2024, Khan starred in Faezeh Jalali's tragicomedy play Runaway Brides, as part of the Prithvi Theatre festival.[9] Also at the theatre, he played multiple roles in Shikhandi, based on the character of the same name.[10] In the same year, he played a trans woman in Jalali's play Strictly Unconventional at the National Centre for the Performing Arts.[11] Reviewing the play, Deepa Gahlot found Khan "totally relaxed in his flamboyant outfit and wig".[12]
Films
Khan made his lead acting debut with the leading role of social reformer Karsandas Mulji in the period drama film Maharaj. It is based on the Maharaj Libel Case of 1862, about a priest who sexually assaulted women. Khan prepared for a year to play Mulji, relying on information he found in the public domain, losing around 25 kg of body weight, and learning the dialect in which Mulji spoke.[13] The film was released on Netflix in 2024, following delays due to legal disputes.[14][15] Shilajit Mitra of The Hindu reviewed that Khan is "sincere and sharp-featured as the striving Karsandas [...] though still miles away from emerging a captivating leading man: he is especially dull in the courtroom scenes".[16]
In 2025, Khan had his first theatrical release opposite Khushi Kapoor in the romantic comedy Loveyapa, a remake of the Tamil film Love Today (2022).[17][18] It tells the story of an engaged couple who switch phones before their marriage; Khan admitted to feeling miscast in the role as he found his character’s personality vastly different from his own.[19] Titas Chowdhury of News18 took note of Khan's comic timing, which he did not have an opportunity to display in Maharaj.[20] Conversely, Rediff.com's Sukanya Verma dismissed his "acting method [as] akin to someone wringing out water from a towel" and criticised his chemistry with Kapoor.[21] It emerged as a box-office bomb.[22]
The following year, Khan starred opposite Sai Pallavi in the Sapporo-set romance Ek Din (2026), produced by his father.[23] In a mixed review of the film for the Indian edition of The Hollywood Reporter, Rahul Desai criticised Khan's portrayal of his introverted character "as if it’s a medical condition", preferring the performance of Pallavi, who he remarked is "acting for two".[24]
Filmography
| Template:Dagger | Denotes films that have not yet been released |
Films
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | PK | — | Assistant director | [25] |
| 2024 | Maharaj | Karsandas Mulji | [14] | |
| 2025 | Loveyapa | Gaurav "Gucci" Sachdeva | [26] | |
| 2026 | Ek Din | Dinesh "Dino" Shrivastava | [27] | |
| Template:TBA | Ragini 3 Template:Dagger | Template:TBA | Filming | [28] |
Theatre
- Mother Courage and Her Children (2017)
- Medea (2019)
- Runaway Brides (2024)
- Shikhandi (2024)
- Strictly Unconventional (2024)
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Film | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Indian Television Academy Awards | Best Actor in an Original Film – OTT | Maharaj | Template:Nom | [29] |
| Bollywood Hungama OTT India Fest | Bright New Star of the Year | Template:Nom | [30] |
References
- ↑ New star kid on the block: Junaid Khan(10 October 2023). Retrieved 30 March 2025.
- ↑ I'll Do It My Way: The Incredible Journey of Aamir Khan{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Om Books International(2012). ISBN 978-93-80069-22-7
- ↑ Aamir Khan: A Social Spark{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Prabhat Prakashan(2017). ISBN 978-93-5266-118-3
- ↑ Music, masti, modernity: the cinema of Nasir Husain{{#if:Manwani|, Manwani}. HarperCollins Publishers India(2016). ISBN 978-93-5264-097-3
- ↑ Template:Cite magazine
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Junaid Khan interview: 'I come from immense privilege, cannot pretend otherwise'. The Hindu(15 January 2025). Retrieved 4 February 2025.
- ↑ Template:Cite magazine
- ↑ Ira Khan and Hazel Keech Match Talents to Keep 'Medea' Relevant. The Quint(13 December 2019). Retrieved 4 February 2025.
- ↑ 'Prithvi Theatre Festival': Faezeh Jalali brings a tragic comedy to stage. Mint Lounge(12 November 2024). Retrieved 4 February 2025.
- ↑ Aamir Khan's son Junaid rocks the show as Drupada and Bhishma in the entertaining mythological play, Shikhandi. Bollywood Hungama(11 April 2024). Retrieved 4 February 2025.
- ↑ Junaid Khan returns to theatre with upcoming play 'Strictly Unconventional' after debut film success; rehearsal images out ahead of September 1 premiere. Bollywood Hungama(13 August 2024). Retrieved 4 February 2025.
- ↑ Strictly Unconventional Play Review. Mumbai Theatre Guide. Retrieved 4 February 2025.
- ↑ Maharaj actors Junaid Khan and Jaideep Ahlawat talk about their prep and weight loss. The Indian Express(6 July 2024). Retrieved 6 February 2025.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Gujarat HC lifts stay on release of 'Maharaj,' debut film of Aamir Khan's son. The Hindu(21 June 2024). Retrieved 22 June 2024.
- ↑ Court stays release of 'Maharaj', here's everything you need to know about Maharaj Libel Case of 1862. India TV News(13 June 2024).
- ↑ 'Maharaj' movie review: Junaid Khan's debut film means well, runs dull. The Hindu. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
- ↑ India's Phantom Studios Lines Up Slate of Theatrical Projects, CEO Srishti Behl Reveals at Taiwan Creative Content Fest. Variety(6 November 2023). Retrieved 2 January 2024.
- ↑ Tamil Blockbuster 'Love Today' Gets Bollywood Remake From Phantom, AGS. Variety(19 February 2023). Retrieved 2 January 2024.
- ↑ Loveyapa: Junaid Khan reveals he wouldn't be casting himself as lead in Advait Chandan's rom-com; Know why. Pinkvilla(5 February 2025). Retrieved 7 February 2025.
- ↑ Loveyapa Review: Junaid, Khushi's film Is A Frothy Take On Modern Love But Lacks Love Today's Rawness, Chowdhury, Titas. News18(7 February 2024). Retrieved 6 February 2025.
- ↑ Loveyapa Review: Love Yeah, Leads Pah!. Rediff.com(7 February 2025). Retrieved 7 February 2025.
- ↑ Loveyapa Day 8 India Box Office Trends: Junaid Khan and Khushi Kapoor-led's run gets curtailed by Chhaava, Captain America 4, Dixit, Mohit. Pinkvilla(14 February 2025). Retrieved 14 February 2025.
- ↑ Aamir Khan's son Junaid Khan has high hopes from LoveYapa and Ek Din. Pinkvilla(22 January 2025). Retrieved 4 February 2025.
- ↑ ‘Ek Din’ Movie Review: A Lanky and Awkward Love Story, Desai, Rahul. The Hollywood Reporter India(2026-05-01). Retrieved 2026-05-02.
- ↑ Spotted: Aamir Khan's son Junaid as assistant director on PK. Deccan Chronicle(22 November 2014). Retrieved 4 February 2025.
- ↑ Junaid Khan begins shooting three-week shoot schedule for romantic comedy opposite Khushi Kapoor in Mumbai. Bollywood Hungama(28 May 2024). Retrieved 31 May 2024.
- ↑ Sai Pallavi with Aamir Khan's Son Junaid To Begin Shooting For Untitled Film From December 1. News 18(December 2023). Retrieved 11 February 2024.
- ↑ Template:Cite magazine
- ↑ ITA Awards 2024: Complete list of winners. Indian Television Academy Awards. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
- ↑ Bollywood Hungama OTT Awards 2024: Panchayat and Heeramandi win big at the star-studded event. Bollywood Hungama(5 October 2024). Retrieved 5 October 2024.