Kareena Kapoor Khan has recently opened up about the controversy surrounding the name of her elder son, Taimur Ali Khan. In a video, the actress discussed how the uproar impacted her personally. She added that her husband, actor Saif Ali Khan, remained calm and composed throughout the situation.
Kareena recalled the wise words of her grandfather, the legendary Raj Kapoor. He advised her that when people are talking about you—whether positively or negatively—it indicates your prominence. "If you want to be a superstar, you must take it in your stride; otherwise, this place isn't for you," he said, encouraging her to have a “patthar ka dil” or a strong heart.
Kareena expressed her feelings about the intense focus on Taimur's name, saying, “Of course, it affected me that people were talking about his name. He probably doesn't even know that there was a whole drama, and now suddenly everyone is like, 'Okay, whatever.'” She added that despite the controversy, Taimur received a lot of love from the public, although she questioned why there was such interest in him at such a young age. “He is so small,” she remarked, acknowledging that he will gradually come to understand the attention he garners.
Kareena emphasized the importance of reminding Taimur that he should strive to create his own identity, as she and Saif have done in their careers. She noted, "I have to keep reminding him that it's important that you do something; your parents have done something." Saif’s supportive nature during the controversy also provided comfort to Kareena, as he reassured her that they needed to stay calm and confident amidst the chaos. “I’m happy we had each other to discuss that,” she added.
The controversy began shortly after Taimur's birth in December 2016, when the couple faced backlash over the name. At one point, Saif even suggested he was open to renaming their son due to public sentiment. Kareena had previously revealed that a prominent figure in the film industry harshly criticized her choice, claiming she had made a mistake. Saif acknowledged in a 2017 interview that he understood why the name upset some people, as many associated it with the historical figure Timur, a Turkish invader. The couple welcomed their second son, Jehangir Ali Khan (Jeh), in 2021, further expanding their family.