BAFTA Breakthrough recently unveiled its creatives for the year 2022. This Is Going To Hurt star Ambika Mod is among the 33 talents across film, TV, and game who have been selected for the 2022 edition of Bafta Breakthrough.
Mod, who was also chosen as a 2022 Screen Star of Tomorrow, stars as junior trainee doctor Shruti alongside Ben Whishaw in the BBC series. She also headlines the forthcoming series One Day, set at Netflix.
Every year, the flagship talent initiative of the arts charity selects a number of creatives, providing support in their professional development, including coaching, mentoring, and networking opportunities with key industry figures.
Alongside names such as EastEnders star and Strictly Come Dancing winner Rose Ayling-Ellis and Sex Education director Runyararo Mapfumo, Mod will receive professional development and global networking opportunities from Bafta, with the support of Netflix.
Talking to a news agency, Mod said, “The greatest thing about the show was that, at its heart, it was a love letter to the NHS. And, especially with everything we’ve gone through in the last couple of years, it was a show that really exemplified what it is that key workers go through. We knew that we were making something really special when we were making it, but we could never have expected the outpouring of love and appreciation that we did get when the show actually came out.”
She went on to add, “It was also really funny, and I think it showed the extremes of human life at its best and its worst. So I’m so proud of it and I’m so grateful to have been a part of it, and I’m so glad that it had the impact that it did socially, as well as just a great piece of television.”
Below is the full list of BAFTA UK Breakthroughs:
Alex Thomas - Director - Yorkshire Cop: Police, Racism and Me (TV)
Alyx Jones - Dialogue Editor - Elden Ring (Games)
Ambika Mod - Performer – This is Going to Hurt (TV)
Chloë Fairweather - Director – Dying to Divorce (Film)
Diana Olifirova - Cinematographer - Heartstopper (TV)
Emily Brown - Lead Designer - Alba: a Wildlife Adventure (Games)
Jack Rooke - Writer/Executive Producer – Big Boys (TV)
Jamal Green - Composer - TOEM (Games)
Joanna Boateng - Producer - Uprising (TV)
Leon Harrop - Performer – Ralph & Katie (TV)
Marley Morrison - Writer/Director - Sweetheart (Film)
Morag Taylor - Principal Technical Artist – Total War: Warhammer 3 (Games)
Nell Barlow - Performer - Sweetheart (Film)
Nicôle Lecky - Writer/Executive Producer/Actor - MOOD (TV)
Paul Sng - Director - Poly Styrene: I Am a Cliché (Film)
Rose Ayling-Ellis - Performer - EastEnders (TV)
Runyararo Mapfumo - Director – Sex Education (TV)
Sophie Cunningham - Director – Look Away (TV)
Theo Williams - Director – Terms & Conditions: Deeper than Drill (TV)
Zachary Soares & Luciana Nascimento - Co-Founders, Creative Director & Artistic Director – Moonglow Bay (Games)
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.