Actor Zaid Khan has come forward to publicly defend Aryan Khan, son of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, after a complaint was filed accusing Aryan of displaying an obscene gesture toward a crowd at a Bengaluru pub on November 28. The incident, which quickly went viral through a short video clip, sparked a wave of online reactions and eventually led to a formal complaint submitted to multiple Karnataka authorities.
However, Zaid, a close friend of Aryan and the son of Karnataka politician Zameer Ahmed, insists that the situation has been grossly misunderstood. Speaking to TV9 Kannada, the actor emphasized that Aryan’s gesture — allegedly of him showing his middle finger — was never directed toward the public. Instead, Zaid clarified that the gesture was meant privately for Aryan’s manager, who is also a close friend of his.
Zaid explained that he and Aryan share a long history, having trained together during their early days in acting school. He revealed that Aryan had personally messaged him about visiting Bengaluru, prompting the two to meet and attend an opening ceremony at a local pub. Unexpectedly, the venue was packed with far more people than either of them had anticipated.
“I have known Aryan Khan for many years. We both learned acting at the same place. He had messaged me that he was coming to Bengaluru. So we went to an opening ceremony. There were more people there than we thought,” Zaid recounted.
He then described how the situation unfolded inside the pub. Given the growing crowd and the rising excitement surrounding Aryan’s presence, the actor became increasingly uncomfortable. Zaid noted that Aryan even expressed concern, saying that he might not be able to proceed with the event if the crowd continued to swell. To manage the situation, Aryan’s manager — who also happens to be a mutual friend — stepped in to help disperse the gathering.
“His manager (also a friend) went to disperse the people,” Zaid said. “He didn’t come for a long time. Then we went to the balcony to see what happened. Then he showed Aryan to his friend-cum-manager. He didn’t show it to the people.”
According to Zaid, Aryan’s gesture was essentially a moment of private communication between two friends amid a chaotic environment. Unfortunately, the gesture was captured from an angle that made it appear as though it was directed toward the crowd below. The clip, once circulated online, was quickly interpreted as an insulting act toward the public, leading to outrage and eventually a police complaint.
The complaint was filed by advocate Owaiz Hussain S, a resident of Sankey Road, Bengaluru. He addressed the complaint to several authorities, including the Director General of Police, the Bengaluru City Police Commissioner, the DCP (Central Division), the Inspector of Cubbon Park Police Station, and the Karnataka State Women’s Commission.
As reported by ANI, the complainant alleged that numerous women were present at the venue at the time of the incident and that they felt “insulted” by Aryan’s alleged gesture. The matter is currently under review, with authorities examining both the complaint and the available video footage to determine whether any formal action is warranted.
Despite the controversy, Aryan Khan has remained largely focused on his creative pursuits. The young filmmaker recently marked his directorial debut with “The Bads of Bollywood,” a Netflix original series. The show features an ensemble cast including Lakshya, Raghav Juyal, Sahher Bamba, and Bobby Deol, and has sparked considerable interest for its edgy premise and fresh storytelling approach. Aryan has been actively involved in the project’s development and promotion, shifting his attention toward building a long-term career in filmmaking.
Zaid Khan’s defense has added a new dimension to the ongoing debate, suggesting that the viral moment may have been misinterpreted and blown out of proportion. His statement offers context to the clip and underscores the challenges public figures face in crowded, high-pressure environments where even private actions can be misconstrued.
For now, as officials continue to evaluate the complaint, the incident has reopened broader conversations about celebrity scrutiny, the impact of viral moments, and the importance of understanding context before drawing conclusions. Meanwhile, both Aryan and his supporters hope that clarity will prevail as the matter proceeds.
