Presented by YouTube and Screen Scotland, the Edinburgh TV Awards are back for their 20th year and organizers have just announced the shortlist for the prestigious TV Awards. Winners will be announced digitally on October 21, 2021.
Actress and singer-songwriter Anjana Vasan has been nominated for Best TV Actor (Comedy) for her performance in the popular Channel 4 sitcom We Are Lady Parts. Created, written and directed by Nida Manzoor, the series follows an eponymous British punk rock band, which consists entirely of Muslim women.
Vasan has secured the nomination alongside OT Fagbenle (MAXXX), Anna Maxwell Martin (Motherland), Tanya Moodie (Motherland), Joe Gilgun (Brassic), and Samson Kayo (Bloods).
Anita Rani and Romesh Ranganathan have also bagged nominations for the Edinburgh TV Awards 2021. The two appear in the Best TV Presenter category, alongside Grayson Perry, Bradley Walsh, Graham Norton, and Roman Kemp.
In addition to the awards shortlist, The Edinburgh TV Awards has also appointed writer, director, producer, and broadcaster Reggie Yates as its first jury president.
“It is a real honour to Chair the Jury for this year’s Edinburgh TV Festival Awards,” Yates said in a release.
“Despite the challenges of the last year through the Covid pandemic, it has been incredible to see tenacity, creativity and innovation come to the fore. It was a real pleasure deliberating with my fellow jurors on some of the most entertaining, dramatic, thought-provoking and inspiring programming and talent from the past year,” he added.
As mentioned above, the results for the Edinburgh TV Awards 2021 will be revealed via a digital ceremony on 21st October.
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.