Filmmaker and choreographer Ahmed Khan has finally addressed long-standing rumours about his equation with Shahid Kapoor, clarifying that there is no major fallout between them. Speaking in an exclusive interview, Ahmed explained that while the two remain childhood friends, their busy lives and different creative choices have naturally led them down separate paths.
Ahmed revealed that his association with Shahid goes back decades, recalling that he first choreographed the actor in the iconic music video Aankhon Mein Tera Hi Chehra before working with him on Ishq Vishk. He later directed Shahid in Fool & Final and also produced Paathshala, in which the actor played an important role.
Talking about why they haven’t collaborated in recent years, Ahmed said their film preferences no longer align. “He’s following a certain template of films that he wants to do, while I’m making a certain kind of films that I want to make,” he explained, adding that they would happily work together again once they find a script that matches both their sensibilities.
Despite speculation about their friendship over the years, Ahmed dismissed any notion of bitterness. “We’ll come together when we’re on the same page about the kind of films we want to do. If I take the right script to him at the right time, I know he’ll jump into it,” he said, while admitting that the possibility currently remains “fifty-fifty.”
Opening up about their personal bond, Ahmed shared that they no longer meet as frequently as they once did. “We don’t meet that much. We became friends when I was 11 and Shahid was 7. Our friendship goes back over 30 years. But this industry is such that you keep making new friends, and sometimes you forget your old ones. Our lifestyles have changed now,” he said.
Ahmed also reflected on how his priorities have shifted over time. He revealed that his sons, Azaan and Subhaan, have become his closest companions and often discuss films and filmmaking with him. Calling them his new best friends, the director said he enjoys hearing their fresh perspective on modern cinema.
Rumours of a rift between Ahmed Khan and Shahid Kapoor first surfaced in 2015 after Ahmed missed Shahid’s wedding to Mira Rajput. At the time, he had admitted being upset with the actor and later claimed that Shahid did not visit him during a difficult health phase. However, Ahmed’s latest remarks suggest that while life has taken them in different directions, there is no permanent fallout, leaving the door open for a future reunion on the big screen.