Ira Khan Shares Her Deeply Personal Battle with Body Image and Weight
Ira Khan, daughter of Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan, continues to speak openly about her mental health journey. She has consistently chosen vulnerability over silence, using her platform to raise awareness about these critical issues. In a recent Instagram post, Ira delved into her complex relationship with her body, weight, and the emotional toll it has taken on her life.
A Candid Conversation About Self-Perception
Shared on Monday, her video post deliberately avoids the typical transformation story. Instead, Ira speaks with raw honesty about how distorted her self-image became. She describes a period when she genuinely did not understand her own appearance.
In her caption, she wrote powerfully: "What I looked like when I thought I was 'fat'/'unfit'. And the moment I understood what it felt like to be in a… fight, almost, with your body, weight and sustenance. It’s one of the worst feelings I’ve ever felt."
Roots of Discomfort Traced to Childhood
Ira traces her body image issues back to her early years. She explains that she grew up actively avoiding mirrors, believing that looking at herself was an act of vanity.
"I grew up never looking in the mirror because I thought it was vain," she reveals. "So even when I brushed my teeth or when I was in a lift, I would never look in the mirror. I would sneak glances and then look away even when no one was watching. What this means is that I didn’t really know what I looked like, and so in the beginning when I thought I was fat, I would say fat. I meant unfit. I actually didn’t know what I looked like."
Aamir Khan's Unwavering Support During Crisis
During one of her most difficult phases, Ira recalls how her father, Aamir Khan, stood firmly by her side. She shared that the two traveled together to Germany for a medically supervised fasting retreat.
"We went to Germany for a fasting retreat. We spent 17 days there," Ira said. "I fasted for 17 days in a completely controlled environment with doctors and making sure it was safe. Apart from the fasting, we had free rein to do whatever we wanted…. They would take us on a walk and there were 3 levels. There was the fast group, the medium group, and then the old people group."
One particular walk left a profound emotional mark. Ira described breaking down completely, overwhelmed by both physical and emotional exhaustion.
"I remember crying and at every step, I felt like I didn’t know how to take the next step…" she recalled. "My dad was standing next to me and holding my hand. He was trying to say 'we just take one step at a time.' But I remember looking down and thinking how helpless I felt."
A Weight Journey and a Message of Empathy
As the video concludes, Ira reflects on how her weight fluctuated significantly over the years. She reveals that between 2020 and 2026, she experienced three distinct phases of being what she describes as "fat and obese."
The moment of truth arrived when she finally weighed herself again last year.
"I finally checked my weight last year in June and I found out that I was 84 kgs," she shared. "And that really shook me because the last time I checked, I was 57…"
Ira ends her powerful message with deep empathy for others facing similar struggles.
"To anyone who struggles with their weight, whether it’s putting on weight or losing weight, I believe you. It is very painful and very hard if you feel like your body’s not listening to you… It’s one of the most terrible feelings I’ve ever felt."
Through her openness, Ira Khan not only shares her personal story but also contributes to a larger conversation about mental health, self-perception, and the importance of support systems.
