WHEN All We Imagine As Light was screened at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year, it was described as a cinematic poem and won the coveted Grand Prix prize.
The Payal Kapadia-directed drama, set in Mumbai, had its UK premiere at the recent BFI London Film Festival and will be released in UK cinemas on November 29. The free-flowing drama revolves around three nurses at different stages of their lives, struggling to survive in an overcrowded city while doing a demanding job. All of them come from smaller rural areas.
Prabha (Kani Kusruti) appears to have been abandoned by her husband, who moved to Germany shortly after their marriage. She lives with the feisty young Anu (Divya Prabha), a Hindu girl secretly involved in a romance with a Muslim man. Meanwhile, elderly widow Parvaty (Chhaya Kadam) faces eviction due to a lack of documentation left by her late husband. A doctor struggling with city life begins to fall for Prabha, who is increasingly torn. The three women eventually take a trip that inadvertently gives them space to breathe.
The nicely shot film, driven by convincing performances from an accomplished cast, blends a range of emotions – loneliness, disillusionment, budding romance, internal struggle, and even unrequited love. The accomplished writer-director weaves these feelings into a believable tale of finding light amid darkness. While the reality-driven film offers many great moments and conveys important messages, some viewers may find its pace slow and feel frustrated by not finding more about the characters. The resolution to some narrative threads is also somewhat lacking.
Is it a masterpiece, as some festival jury members and reviewers have claimed? No. But it is an important piece of artistic filmmaking that will certainly satisfy the cinema purist.
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.