Just days after Babil Khan publicly confirmed his departure from director Sai Rajesh’s upcoming film — following a tense fallout and emotional social media exchange — the project appears to have hit a major roadblock. According to a Peeping Moon report, the Bollywood remake of the 2023 Telugu hit Baby, which was also set to launch Govinda’s son Yashvardhan Ahuja, has now been indefinitely delayed.
Babil and Yashvardhan Were Set to Co-Star
The film, a Hindi adaptation of the Sai Rajesh-directed Telugu romantic drama Baby, was gearing up for a May 5 shoot. Babil had been roped in to reprise the role originally played by Anand Deverakonda, while Yashvardhan Ahuja was cast in the part portrayed by Viraj Ashwin in the original.
However, Babil’s sudden exit has forced the production into limbo. Sources close to the project reveal that the casting process, particularly for the female lead, took nearly six months. With Babil out, the makers now face the challenge of recasting a key role from scratch — a task that could take considerable time. As a result, the production has been paused with no clear timeline for when (or if) it might resume.
What Went Wrong Between Babil and the Filmmakers?
The conflict began when Babil posted a series of emotionally charged Instagram Stories, in which he name-dropped several Bollywood stars and appeared to criticize the industry. The posts sparked controversy and were quickly followed by Babil deactivating his account. Upon his return, he clarified that his remarks had been misunderstood, and that he had in fact been praising his peers.
Despite the clarification, the damage seemed to have been done. Sai Rajesh took to his own Instagram Stories to issue a strongly worded response. “We do deserve an apology for how things have been handled,” he wrote, expressing disappointment over how events had unfolded. He accused Babil of playing “sympathy games” and said the team would no longer tolerate being taken for granted.
Babil initially responded in the comments but later deleted his messages. In a subsequent post, he announced his departure from the film, citing “unforeseen circumstances” and a need to step back for personal reasons. He wished the team well, and emphasized the importance of taking time for self-care.
Sai Rajesh Responds with Grace
Despite the fallout, Sai Rajesh took a diplomatic tone in his closing remarks. He praised Babil as “one of the most talented and hardworking actors” and expressed hope that they might collaborate again in the future. “I respect his decision to prioritize self-care,” he added.
For now, the ambitious Hindi remake of Baby remains in limbo — leaving fans of both Babil Khan and Yashvardhan Ahuja waiting to see if the project will find new footing or fade into development purgatory.
