- Dabboo Ratnani
Dabboo Ratnani is a leading Indian fashion photographer and he is best known for his annual calendar where all film stars appear. Every year the launch of the calendar becomes a great event for all top celebrities. He is the cover photographer for all leading magazines like Cosmopolitan, Filmfare, Hi Blitz, Ok India, Elle, Verve, Femina, The Man and Better Homes and Gardens. His celebrity profile includes Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Aamir Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Bipasha Basu, Arjun Rampal, Katrina Kaif, Alia Bhat and many more.
2. Avinash Gowariker
Avinash Gowariker is a leading Indian Fashion, Film and Celebrity Photographer with excellent skills and commitment to photography. Avinash’s body of work includes an array of personalities from Amitabh Bachchan to Arjun Kapoor, Hema Malini to Sonakshi Sinha and Ustad Zakir Hussain to Sachin Tendulkar.
3. Atul Kasbekar
Atul is an Indian fashion photographer and Bollywood Film Producer. He is recognised for his Kingfisher Calendar shoots. Atul is the owner of a celebrity management company named Bling Entertainment Solutions. Many celebrities including Deepika Padukone, Farhan Akhtar, Abhay Deol, Abhishek Bachchan are clients of that company. Atul Kasbekar produced Bollywood film Neerja starring Sonam Kapoor and Tumhari Sulu starring Vidya Balan.
4. Vikram Bawa
Vikram Bawa is an Indian fashion, advertising and landscape photographer based in Mumbai. He was the first Indian photographer to promote and showcase 3D photography in the late 1990s. Vikram has shot significant Bollywood celebrities as Amitabh Bachchan, Akshay Kumar, Shilpa Shetty, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Abhishek Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Karishma Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra, Hrithik Roshan, Lara Dutta among many more.
5. Rohan Shrestha
Rohan Shrestha is Indian born Nepalese origin photographer. His father is one of the pioneer photographers Rakesh Shrestha. Rohan has great experience of shooting with popular celebrities like Kareena Kapoor, Ranbir Kapoor, Sonam Kapoor, Deepika Padukone, Anupam Kher, Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan and Farhan Akhtar.
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire
Rahul Bhatt sparks controversy over 'insensitive' remarks about sisters Alia and Pooja Bhatt
Rahul Bhatt, fitness trainer and son of veteran filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, has found himself at the centre of a social media storm following controversial remarks about his half-sister, Alia Bhatt. In a recent interview, Rahul drew comparisons between Alia and their older sister Pooja Bhatt, calling the latter more talented, attractive, and principled.
The comments, which many have labelled inappropriate and insensitive, have sparked widespread criticism online. During the interview, Rahul stated, “In my opinion, she (Alia) is not even half of what my real sister Pooja is. Not in talent, not in looks, not in terms of being sexy. In front of my sister, she is ‘paani kam chai’ (watery tea). Amongst the siblings, the most talented and the most moralistic is Pooja.”
Social media users reacted strongly, questioning why Rahul would compare his sisters in such personal terms. Several users were particularly disturbed by his reference to their appearance and sex appeal, pointing out that such comparisons within a family cross boundaries of propriety. One comment read, “This is disturbing. Why talk about your sisters like that? It’s not just weird, it’s wrong.” Another post said, “There’s nothing respectful about comparing your siblings’ attractiveness in public.”
The backlash also reignited conversation around a decades-old controversy involving Mahesh Bhatt and Pooja Bhatt. Rahul was asked about the infamous 1990s magazine cover where the father-daughter duo shared a kiss, which had stirred public outrage at the time. Dismissing the criticism, Rahul said, “It doesn’t make any difference. It’s like water off a duck’s back. We know the truth, and we’ve seen everything since childhood.”
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire, with critics saying it reflects a broader issue of the Bhatt family being insensitive to public perception and boundaries. Many users questioned the need for bringing up old incidents in a bid to defend new and equally questionable statements.
As of now, neither Alia Bhatt nor Pooja Bhatt has issued any public response to Rahul’s remarks. Both actors, known for their significant contributions to Indian cinema, have typically kept family matters private despite living in the public eye.
This episode has also sparked debate over the role of public figures in maintaining respect when discussing family matters in the media. Observers say such comments, especially when involving women’s appearance and personal qualities, reinforce problematic attitudes and fuel unnecessary controversies.
While Rahul Bhatt is not as prominent in the entertainment industry as his father or sisters, his comments have made headlines and placed the Bhatt family in the spotlight for reasons beyond their creative work. For many, this serves as a reminder that public platforms come with responsibility, and that family ties should not be trivialised or dissected for attention or comparison.
The backlash is unlikely to subside soon, especially as fans and followers of Alia and Pooja continue to express disappointment over the way the situation has unfolded. Whether or not Rahul chooses to clarify or apologise remains to be seen.