‘Show women their place and...’ Imran Khan calls Andrew Tate a bad role model for young boys

Actor Imran Khan has shared his thoughts on why controversial internet personalities such as Andrew Tate appeal to many young men.

Speaking on the Decoding Quirks podcast, the actor said many boys searching for guidance are being drawn towards unrealistic ideas of masculinity instead of healthy role models.

Imran also reflected on the positive influence his own family had on him, saying the men in his life taught him to respect women through their actions.

Imran Khan on why young men are vulnerable

During the conversation, Imran spoke about the pressures modern society places on men. He said many are led to believe that success alone will bring happiness.

According to him, men are often told that getting a promotion, buying a Rolex or owning a Mercedes will make their lives complete. However, when those achievements fail to deliver lasting fulfilment, many are left feeling unhappy and searching for answers.

Imran believes this creates an opportunity for people like Andrew Tate to step in.

He 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."

He credits his family for shaping his outlook

Imran also spoke about the people who influenced his understanding of relationships and respect.

He said his mother, father, stepfather and other male relatives played an important role in shaping his values from a young age.

The actor 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."

A look back at Imran Khan's career

Imran Khan, who is Aamir Khan's nephew, made his acting debut with ‘Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na’ in 2008 alongside Genelia D'Souza. The coming-of-age romance became a major success and introduced him as one of Bollywood's promising young actors.

He later appeared in films including ‘I Hate Luv Storys’ (2010), ‘Break Ke Baad’ (2010), ‘Delhi Belly’ (2011) and ‘Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu’ (2012). Among these, ‘Delhi Belly’ remains one of the most widely appreciated films of his career.

After starring in ‘Katti Batti’ in 2015, Imran stepped away from acting and largely stayed out of the spotlight. In recent years, however, he has returned to public attention through candid interviews and his active presence on social media.

He also made a brief comeback on screen with a cameo appearance in Vir Das' ‘Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos’, a film produced by Aamir Khan.

His personal life

Imran married his childhood sweetheart Avantika Malik in 2011 after getting engaged a year earlier. The couple have a daughter together but separated in 2019. He is currently in a relationship with Lekha Washington.