Ibrahim Ali Khan, son of actors Saif Ali Khan and Amrita Singh, recently revealed that he has battled a speech impediment since early childhood—an issue that continues to demand constant effort and resilience.
Ibrahim Ali Khan on losing quite a bit of hearing due to jaundice
In a conversation with GQ, Ibrahim spoke about the medical complications that followed his birth and how they have shaped him. “Soon after I was born, I had very bad jaundice and that went straight to my brainstem. I went on to lose quite a bit of my hearing and that impacted my speech,” he shared. My speech is something that I’ve had to work hard on since I was a child, with coaches and therapists. It’s not perfect; I’m still working really hard on it,” he added.
On going to boarding school
His journey took a pivotal turn when his parents enrolled him in a boarding school in the UK. Though it was a daunting transition, Ibrahim believes it played a critical role in shaping who he is today. “Being Indian, it was hard to fit in, but I had the best four years of my life. I played sports, made new friends and learnt a lot. My speech issue was so bad back then, and the move placed me in this new space where I had to survive,” he said, reflecting on those formative years.
He also made it clear that despite coming from a privileged background, he faced his share of challenges. “I don’t mean to sound like some rich kid whining, but when you’re 14 and on your own, boarding school isn’t easy. It’s very strict. Yet, it shaped my character and changed my perspective on life,” he explained.
Ibrahim is the elder son of Saif Ali Khan and Amrita Singh, who were married from 1991 to 2004. He is the younger brother of actress Sara Ali Khan. After Saif’s divorce from Amrita, he married actress Kareena Kapoor Khan. Together, they have two sons—Taimur and Jehangir.