1. Asia’s cleanest village – Mawlynnong, Meghalaya
Mawlynnong is a village in the East Khasi Hills district of the Meghalaya state in North East India. Around 100 km from state capital Shillong this small village won the status of being the cleanest village, not just in India, but in Asia. The literacy rate of this village is 90%. Agriculture is the chief occupation of the local population, with betel nut being the main crop.
2. Indian village without any doors - Shani Shingnapur, Maharastra
Shani Shingnapur is a village in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Situated in Nevasa taluka in Ahmednagar district, the village is famous for the fact that no house in the village has doors, only door frames. Despite this, officially no theft was reported in the village. In fact, this village has the first lock-less bank in the country too.
3. Indian village that distributes sweets when a girl is born – Chappar, Haryana
Chappar villagers distribute sweets and welcome every newborn girl child. Villagers rejoice the birth of a girl child and make sure she attends school. All this was made possible by Neelam, sarpanch of a small village, Chappar, in Haryana. She first launched a campaign to spread awareness on women’s rights against social evils such as dowry and female foeticide which gradually became the voice of women in her village.
- This village has more than 400 twins - Kodinhi, Kerala
Kodinhi, a remote village in Kerala's Malappuram district; this village has the largest number of twins in the country. According to estimates, there are at least 400 pairs of twins in the village that has a population of 2000 families. While the national average of twin births is not more than 9 in 1000 births, in Kodinhi, the number is as high as 45 in 1000 births.
- It is known for being cursed and haunted – Kuldhara, Rajasthan
Kuldhara is an abandoned village in the Jaisalmer district of Rajasthan, India. Once a prosperous village inhabited by Paliwal Brahmins, it now lies cursed and abandoned. It was abandoned by the early 19th century for unknown reasons. Kuldhara acquired the reputation as a haunted site, and the Government of Rajasthan decided to develop it as a tourist spot in the 2010s.
A scene from The Thursday Murder Club, where four retirees turn amateur detectives in a quiet British village shaken by a real murderInstagram/NetflixUK
Stills from Andaz Apna Apna
Stills from Andaz Apna Apna
Vinay Kumar Sinha
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.