Designer-actor Masaba Gupta says being in front of the camera is like a vacation for her from the profit and loss of her fashion label.
Masaba made a foray into acting in 2020 with the Netflix series Masaba Masaba and followed it up with last year's Prime Video series Modern Love Mumbai and the second season of her eponymous show.
The 33-year-old artist said she is "unapologetically ambitious" and would like to pursue everything that interests her.
“My baby is still my brand 'House of Masaba' and I spend 95 per cent of the time there and now a beauty brand as well. I am unapologetically ambitious and at the same time I have the energy, time, and bandwidth, so why not do everything that I always wanted to do. In this (acting) space, I am having a lot of fun because my day job takes care of my expenses and runs my house. Acting is my joy, passion, hobby, my get away from the profit and loss, this is the holiday from that,” Masaba told PTI in an interview.
She said she is keen to accept acting offers that are unique and challenging. “I am very open to whatever comes my way... And if something comes my way that I have not done before and is challenging, then I do it."
Masaba's upcoming project is the Audible Original podcast series “Marvel's Wastelanders: Black Widow”.
The Hindi-language series hails from Audible, a leading company that produces audio entertainment content, and will premiere exclusively on the platform throughout 2023 and 2024.
Bollywood star Kareena Kapoor Khan voices Black Widow alongside Saif Ali Khan as Peter Quill aka Star-Lord , Jaideep Ahlawat as Hawkeye, Sharad Kelkar as Wolverine, Ashish Vidyarthi as Doctor Doom, and Masaba as Lisa Cartwright.
The designer said for a Marvel fan like her it's a dream come true moment. “Did I dream of being a Marvel character while I was watching films? Absolutely, but it is a dream that you will never think will come to life. It is sweet,” she said.
The audio epic, which was originally launched as an English-language series in June 2021, is made up of six seasons — “Marvel's Wastelanders: Star-Lord”, “Marvel's Wastelanders: Hawkeye”, “Marvel's Wastelanders: Black Widow”, “Marvel's Wastelanders: Wolverine”, “Marvel's Wastelanders: Doom” and “Marvel's Wastelanders”, which will culminate the epic series with a stunning finale.
(PTI)
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.