Logout EXCLUSIVE! Babil Khan Reveals What Irrfan & His Mom Were Adamant About: 'Had Dabba Phone Till I Was..'

Logout on ZEE5: Everyone wants to achieve fame through social media but have we thought about the psychological impact of the same on lives? ZEE5's newest release takes the audience on a roller coaster ride filled with drama, emotions, thrill, showcasing the dark side of digital fame.

Babil Khan, who wooed the audience with his performances in Qala and The Railway Men, opted for a hatke role in his new project. He portrayed the role of Pratyush Dua, a popular social media influencer.

As his new film released on OTT, Babil exclusively interacted with Filmibeat, sharing his perspective on the issues that Logout tackles. He also revealed how his parents (Late Irrfan Khan and Sutapa Sikdar) were adamant about him living a certain way during his younger days.

Excerpts from the interview

1. Having grown up surrounded by the digital world, do you feel you have a unique perspective on the issues Logout tackles? Is there any personal experience that made you reflect more deeply on the film's themes?

Ans: I didn't grow up like most people. My parents were very adamant about me not growing up in a digital world. I was first raised in a place very close to a forest, and then in Madh Island. I went to a school called Tridha-an alternative school where no plastic is allowed, and everything is wooden. I had a dabba phone till I was 21 or 22. So all of this-social media, the digital world-it's very new to me

2. The film is a commentary on the growing digital dependence in the society. Has the film forced you to reflect upon your digital dependence? How addicted are you to your mobile phone or social media?

Ans: I'm not attached to my phone, but I always try to play characters and be part of stories that I feel I'm far from. Because I believe every human being has every shade within them, right? And there are shades of darkness that we avoid-not pretend, but we live in denial of that darkness inside us. So I try to find characters where I feel, "This is not who I am." And then I prove to myself-this is me too, but I choose not to be that.

3.. How has working on this film changed your perspective on social media and digital privacy, do you approach your online presence differently now?

Ans: Yeah, it's about using social media as a tool rather than a source of validation, use it for creativity instead of relying on it for your self-worth. I think that's what my journey has taught me, and how it's made me reflect on social media.

Logout is available for streaming online on ZEE5. The cyber thriler drama co-starring Rasika Dugal and Nimisha Nair can be downloaded for offline viewing on the leading OTT platform without any additional cost.