Imran Khan is speaking honestly about manhood and what young boys see and hear today. In a recent podcast, he talked about why someone like Andrew Tate becomes so popular, and said he was lucky to have good role models when he was young.
Imran Khan on Andrew Tate’s “simplistic male power fantasy”
On the Decoding Quirks podcast, Imran pointed out that many men grow up thinking wealth, achievement and material success will guarantee happiness. When that promise falls short, they’re left feeling directionless, making them susceptible to those who claim to have all the answers. Speaking specifically about Andrew Tate and figures like him, Imran said, “Into this, there come people who are subverting these men. Andrew Tate is possibly one of the most famous of these. But there are men like these who are preying on vulnerable boys seeking male role models. They are seeking direction, and into this come these guys saying, I’ll tell you how. And they sell these men a simplistic male power fantasy. Strong, show women their place, and thus you become a man. And in this vulnerable space, young boys believe these narratives.”
Imran Khan credits his family for positive influence
Imran further revealed that these ideas never appealed to him because he grew up surrounded by people who modelled something entirely different. He credited his mother, along with the men in his family, including his uncle Aamir Khan, for having a lasting influence on how he views the world. He said, “I give credit to my mother, and the men in my life, my father and stepfather, my uncles Mansoor and Aamir. All of these men were positive male influences in my life. These are men who, for themselves, respected women and taught me the same. Not in a belittling way, in an actual, equitable, human way.”
Imran Khan’s acting career
Imran, Aamir Khan’s nephew, entered Bollywood in 2008 with ‘Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na’, co-starring Genelia D’Souza. He went on to appear in films such as ‘I Hate Luv Storys’, ‘Break Ke Baad’, ‘Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu’ and ‘Delhi Belly’, the last of which remains one of his most popular works. Following ‘Katti Batti’ in 2015, he stepped away from acting for a long stretch. In recent years, however, he’s made a comeback of sorts, staying in the public eye through candid interviews and social media posts. He also appeared in a cameo role in Vir Das‘s ‘Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos’, a film produced by Aamir Khan.
Imran Khan’s personal life
On the personal side, Imran tied the knot with his childhood sweetheart Avantika Malik in 2011, following their engagement the year before. The couple have a daughter but chose to part ways in 2019. He is currently in a relationship with Lekha Washington.
