Kareena Kapoor Khan recently addressed the criticism she and Saif Ali Khan faced following the naming of their eldest son, Taimur Ali Khan. Born in December 2016, Taimur’s name sparked outrage on social media, as many people mistakenly assumed it was inspired by the 14th-century Turkish invader Timur. The uproar was intense, and Kareena admitted in a new interview that it deeply affected her. However, she revealed that her son, now seven years old, remains unaware of the controversy surrounding his name.

In a candid conversation with Miss Malini, Kareena Kapoor Khan opened up about the impact of the controversy surrounding her son Taimur’s name. She expressed, "It definitely impacted me to witness the level of attention people were directing toward his name." However, Taimur has no clue that there was ever a controversy about it." She reflected on how, initially, the uproar was overwhelming, saying, "Now everyone seems to be indifferent, but when it first erupted, the noise was quite intense." Despite the negative attention, Kareena acknowledged that Taimur received a significant amount of affection from the public. "It felt strange that people were so invested in him without even knowing him personally. I often wondered, ‘Why? He’s just a little child.’ But as he grows older, I can see him beginning to understand how people recognize him and take his pictures."

Kareena also spoke about the challenges of raising a child in the public eye and how she balances sharing moments of her life with maintaining some privacy. "I often remind Taimur that it's important for him to create his own path, as both his parents have achieved something meaningful." He’s slowly figuring things out, and “I’ve “come to terms with it as a normal aspect of life,” she said.

Reflecting on how she and Saif handled the controversy at the time, Kareena expressed gratitude for their shared strength. "Saif was very calm and supportive throughout. He kept reminding me that we needed to stay calm and confident in our decision. Having each other during that period was crucial."

Kareena explained that this experience influenced how she interacts with her fans on social media. "I post moments on Instagram, but I keep some things private." I’ve learned to keep certain aspects of my life private due to my past experiences. “While I enjoy connecting with my fans, I also have to safeguard certain aspects of our lives.”

In the interview, Kareena fondly recalled a crucial piece of advice from her grandfather, the legendary actor and filmmaker Raj Kapoor.
She recalled, “He once advised me, ‘If you aspire to be a superstar, you must learn to handle things gracefully; otherwise, this industry isn’t for you.’ He also encouraged me to cultivate a 'patthar ka dil' (a heart of stone) to navigate the inevitable ups and downs of this profession."

The backlash surrounding Taimur's name became so intense at one point that Kareena and Saif considered the possibility of changing it. However, they ultimately chose to stay true to their original decision. "We did think about whether we should change his name, but in the end, we decided against it. It was essential for us to stand firm in our choice," she reflected.

Today, Kareena looks back on the controversy as a part of her journey. With time, she has learned to navigate fame and social scrutiny with grace, focusing on what matters most—her family and their well-being.