Amanda Holden is fronting a new Netflix series that puts relationships to the test in a way reality TV hasn’t quite done before. Cheat: Unfinished Business gathers eight couples at a villa in Majorca, all of them trying to pick up the pieces after cheating rocked their relationships.
This isn’t a show about swiping right or looking for love. It’s about what happens after the damage is done, and whether anything can actually be salvaged. Teaming up with relationship expert Paul C. Brunson, known for Married at First Sight UK, Holden helps guide couples through awkward conversations, emotional exercises and confrontations that go far beyond the usual reality drama. It's raw, and sometimes, painfully honest.
Amanda knows a thing or two about public scrutiny and complicated pasts. Years ago, her own marriage ended after her affair with actor Neil Morrissey made headlines. That’s part of why she says she’s not here to judge.
“We live in a world where we’re quick to label people ‘the cheater’, ‘the victim’. But relationships are never that black and white. People make mistakes. What matters is what happens next” she said. The show is about looking at betrayal straight in the face and deciding if there’s still something left to fight for. According to Brunson, the real red flag isn’t that a couple has problems, it’s when they pretend they don’t.
Amanda admits the experience took a toll. Watching people lay themselves bare, sometimes through tears, sometimes in anger, made it impossible not to get emotionally involved. “At first I tried to hold back,” she said. “But you can’t fake your way through something like this. You feel everything with them.”
The idea of giving someone a second chance is at the heart of the series. But forgiveness, as the show makes clear, isn’t about forgetting. It’s about whether two people can move forward with new rules, on new terms, and if they’re both willing to do the work.
Cheat: Unfinished Business streams on Netflix worldwide from 30 April. For anyone who’s ever questioned whether love can survive betrayal, it promises a complicated, messy and very real look at what it takes to try again.
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.