Sacred Games is considered one of the finest webseries to have ever come out on any digital platform. After the humongous success of the first season globally, Netflix is now gearing up to premiere the second season of the series, which starts streaming from 15th August. When Anurag Kashyap made Sacred Games for Netflix, no one had thought that it would attain cult status in no time.
Today, almost everyone who consumes content on the net is waiting for Sacred Games 2 with bated breath. As the premiere date of the series is inching closer, the buzz around it is also increasing. The makers are well aware of the sky-high expectations that the audience has from Sacred Games 2 and that has sort of started mounting some pressure on the makers, it seems.
“I feel the pressure is more this time. When we started the first season, we had no idea of the impact we were going to create. So, we could do just what we wanted to do,” says director Anurag Kashyap. “Now it has become a giant. We feel like, one shouldn’t do something so big – build a fan-following that hold so much expectation that in the second season, it becomes difficult to handle! Just joking! Of course, we love the fact that we made the show exactly as we wanted. So, I am under pressure but I am happy!” adds the filmmaker.
Sacred Games is based on the characters of Inspector Sartaj Singh (Saif Ali Khan) and gangster Gaitonde (Nawazuddin Siddiqui). Actor Pankaj Tripathi has a more prominent role in Sacred Games 2 than its predecessor. Alongside Saif Ali Khan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Pankaj Tripathi, Sacred Games 2 also features Radhika Apte, Kubbra Sait, Kalki Koechlin, Luke Kenny, Ranvir Shorey and Shobita Dhulipala in important roles.
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.