Aamir Khan’s Son Junaid All for his Debuts This Weekend Without Promotions: Have Lessons Been Learned from Heeramandi and Archies?

Ziya Khan June 13, 2024Last Updated: June 13, 2024

Prepare to be surprised: Aamir Khan’s son, Junaid Khan, is all set to make his debut in the film industry this week. His first feature film, titled “Maharaj,” will be released on Netflix, and it’s intriguing that we haven’t even seen the trailer yet. What’s even more surprising is that neither Junaid nor his famous father has uttered a word about the film. So far, all we’ve seen is one poster featuring Junaid alongside Jaideep Ahlawat. In a world where teasers for teasers and song announcements are the norm, this lack of promotion is quite unusual. Unlike most star kids, Junaid has managed to avoid the constant gaze of the paparazzi in Mumbai. From the few pictures and videos we have seen, he appears to be the type of person who inadvertently gets caught by the paparazzi or is captured while accompanying his father.

Junaid hasn’t given any interviews, and we don’t see him endorsing any brands. It seems like a conscious decision to separate himself from the pack of nepotism-driven debutants who follow a predetermined path in the film industry. For the average audience member, the only information available is that he is Aamir Khan’s son from his first marriage to Reena Dutta. But why did Netflix and YRF, the producers of “Maharaj,” decide to keep the release of the film under wraps? Is this a new and innovative promotional strategy devised by Aamir Khan?Since the tragic passing of Sushant Singh Rajput in 2020, social media has scrutinized star kids more intensely. Just recently, Sharmin Segal faced unprecedented criticism for her work in “Heeramandi.”

Audiences questioned her acting skills and her merit in securing a leading role in a Sanjay Leela Bhansali project. Prior to the release of “Heeramandi,” the discussion revolved around Bhansali’s creations. However, after the show aired, the conversation shifted to Sharmin being Bhansali’s niece and her perceived mediocre performance. Last year, when Netflix heavily promoted three star kids in Zoya Akhtar’s “Archie’s,” they faced considerable backlash from the audience. It seemed that a significant portion of the audience was ready to pounce on Agastya Nanda, Khushi Kapoor, and Suhana Khan even before watching the film. The focus during the promotions was on the “boot camp” the actors went through and the rigorous auditioning process that landed them the lead roles.