1. Soha Ali Khan
Soha Ali Khan hails from the family of Nawabs. Her father, late Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, was the former captain of the Indian cricket team and the titular Nawab of Pataudi from 1952 to 1971. Her parental grandfather, Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi, was the eighth Nawab of Pataudi and their parental grandmother, Sajida Sultan, was Begum of Bhopal.
2. Aditi Rao Hydari
Aditi Rao Hydari is a descendant of two royal families. She is the great-granddaughter of Akhbar Hydari and the grandniece of Muhammad Saleh Akhbar Hydari, former Governor of Assam. Her maternal grandparents, Raja J Rameshwar Rao, headed the administration of Wanaparthy state and Shanta Rameshwar Rao, was a respected educationalist of Hyderabad and the Chairperson of Orient Blackswan publishing house.
3. Sonal Chauhan
This Jannat star belongs to the conservative and traditional royal Rajput family. Her parents are Rajputs from Mainpuri, Uttar Pradesh. She is also an Indian fashion model, singer and actress who predominantly work in Telugu and Hindi cinema.
4. Riya Sen And Raima Sen
Daughter of iconic actress Moon Moon Sen, this Sen sisters Raima and Riya Sen belong to the royal Tripura family. Their paternal great-grandmother was the daughter of Baroda’s Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III, and also their paternal grandmother named Ila Devi was the queen of Cooch Behar and the elder sister Gayatri Devi, was also the queen of Jaipur.
5. Bhagyashree
This beautiful actress is best known for her role in Maine Pyar Kiya opposite Salman Khan. She belongs to the royal family of Sangli in Maharashtra. Her father, Vijay Singhrao Madhavrao Patwardhan is the current Raja of Sangli. She has appeared in Hindi and a few Kannada, Marathi, Telugu and some Bhojpuri films.
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.