Junaid Khan and Khushi Kapoor are making waves in the entertainment industry with their first major silver-screen appearances in Loveyapa (2024). Both actors had made their OTT debuts previously—Junaid with Maharaj (2024) and Khushi with The Archies (2023)—but Loveyapa marks their foray into mainstream cinema. While Khushi has captivated the public with her cool, collected demeanour, Junaid has garnered attention for his refreshingly candid and often awkwardly honest public persona.
During the promotional tour for Loveyapa, Junaid’s unfiltered responses caught the eye of social media. One particular moment from an interview, where he admitted to not being “in demand” after shooting Maharaj in 2021, went viral. When asked about his process for selecting scripts, Junaid awkwardly confessed that he didn’t have much to choose from. “There isn’t really much to choose from,” he said, acknowledging the two-year gap between his debut and Loveyapa.
The candid moment triggered a divided reaction from the internet. Some users found his honesty refreshing, appreciating his unpolished, “real” approach to the industry. One Twitter user wrote, “Honestly, I related hard with this lol. Why do you need boilerplate PR garbage being spewed over and over again? Don’t you already get that with the rest of the nepotism crowd?” Another commented, “This is the first clip where I find him remotely likeable! We don’t need everyone to spew PR-trained BS like a parrot.”
However, others felt that his blunt admission hurt his image, particularly as a newcomer to the industry. Comments like “Second hand embarrassment hogya ye dekhke” and “He needs to work at a fast food place or any place where you need to interact with customers and handle them so he can build his communication skills at this point ” pointed out that the honesty could be seen as an unprofessional move for someone just starting their career.
Despite the mixed reactions, Junaid remained unfazed, continuing to be himself, unbothered by the criticism. His fans, however, defended his authenticity, noting that unlike other actors who rely on a polished public image, Junaid’s straightforwardness stands out as a welcome change. “I feel he is authentic. Maharaj was actually good. Let actors be actors and not marketers, please,” one supporter remarked.
As Junaid continues to navigate the tricky world of public relations, it’s clear that his approach—whether it wins or loses hearts—will keep him in the spotlight for the time being.