Director Ahmed Khan Breaks Silence on Alleged Rift With Shahid Kapoor, Says ‘You Forget Who Your Real Friends Are’
Filmmaker Ahmed Khan candidly discusses his alleged decade-long rift with childhood friend Shahid Kapoor in a July 8, 2026 interview. He addresses the 2015 fallout, rooted in his food poisoning hospitalization and missing Kapoor's wedding, their divergent career paths, and past collaborations like 'Ishq Vishk' and 'Fool & Final'.
Bollywood is abuzz as renowned filmmaker and choreographer Ahmed Khan has candidly spoken out about his long-speculated strained relationship with actor Shahid Kapoor. In a recent interaction, Khan opened up about their childhood friendship, the events that led to their alleged fallout in 2015, and the possibility of reuniting professionally. Did Akshay Kumar’s ‘Welcome to the Jungle’ Cost a Whopping INR 250 Crore? Director Ahmed Khan Reveals.
Ahmed Khan on Rift With Shahid Kapoor
Khan and Kapoor share a history that dates back to their childhood, with Khan revealing they became friends when he was 11, and Kapoor was all of 4. Their bond continued into their professional lives, with Khan choreographing Kapoor’s debut music video, "Aankhon Mein Tera Hi Chehra" (1999) (by the band Aryans), and his first film, Ishq Vishk (2003). He later directed Kapoor in Fool & Final (2007) and produced Paathshaala (2010), in which Kapoor played a role.
The rumours of a rift between the once-inseparable friends first surfaced prominently in 2015. Speaking to News18, Khan recalled the specific incidents that caused the initial strain: Shahid Kapoor reportedly did not visit him when Khan was hospitalised after suffering food poisoning, and conversely, Khan did not attend Kapoor's wedding to Mira Rajput in July 2015.
Reflecting on the change in their relationship, Ahmed Khan stated, “I mean, we don't meet that much. We are childhood friends. We became friends when I was 11 and he was all of 4. So, our friendship started some 30 years back. But yeh kaam hi aisa hai na ki isme kai naye dost aate hai (But this work is like that, you make new friends in this field). You befriend so many new people that you forget who your real friends are. Our lifestyles have changed now.”
Ahmed Khan on Possibility of Working With Shahid Kapoor
Despite the admitted distance, Ahmed Khan remains optimistic about a potential professional reunion with Shahid Kapoor. He attributes their lack of recent collaborations to divergent creative paths. "In the recent years, he's following a certain template of films that he wants to do. I, on the other hand, am making a certain kind of films that I want to make," Khan explained.
However, the filmmaker expressed a willingness to collaborate again if their artistic sensibilities align. "We'll work together again when we come together (in terms of our sensibilities). We'll come together when we're on the same page about the kind of films that we want to do. I know that if I take a script to him at that time, he'll jump into it. But at this point, it's a fifty-fifty scenario," he elaborated. Shraddha Kapoor Steps Out With Boyfriend Rahul Mody for ‘Welcome to the Jungle’ Movie Date (Watch Viral Video).
Meanwhile, Shahid Kapoor, 45, continues to be a prominent name in the industry with recent successes like Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya (2024) and the critically acclaimed series Farzi (2023). His upcoming films include Deva (2025) and O Romeo (2026).
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 08, 2026 05:11 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).