By: Mohnish Singh
The new fantasy series Shadow and Bone, which premiered on Friday on Netflix, has been garnering a lot of attention and critical praise from various quarters. Almost everyone who has watched it has positive things to say about the adaptation of Leigh Bardugo’s bestselling Grisha trilogy and the Six of Crows duology book.
Set in an astoundingly amazing fantasy world, Shadow and Bone has a host of compelling characters that make it thoroughly engrossing from the word go. One character that truly stands out is Inej Ghafa, played by actor Amita Suman.
Suman has been receiving excellent reviews for the show and her powerful performance in it. But in her latest interview with Radio Times, the 23-year-old actor says that it is the kind of role people of colour usually do not have access to.
Working on a show like Shadow and Bone comes with its own challenges. “I did get a scar. I had my first Inej scar that I am very proud of. And I had a bit of a swollen foot for about three weeks,” shares Suman.
In the series, Anita Suman plays a skilled acrobat who works with criminal mastermind Kaz Brekker. Her role requires her to scale tall buildings and battle armed warriors. The actress says that playing the part in the series was worth a few cuts and bruises.
“It was a challenge, but it was a challenge that I enjoyed so, so much, because I just was not fit before I started,” she tells Radio Times, adding, “And by the time I finished, the things I could do with my body, it was just absolutely incredible.”
Despite all injuries and pain that went into the making of Inej Ghafa, Suman still cannot believe she notched up a prominent part in such a high-profile show. “You do not see people of my colour – and all other colours – in a leading role, doing such a unique part,” she says.
After landing in the UK at the tender age of seven from her birthplace Nepal, Suman attended the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts. Trying to adjust to a new environment, she received some distasteful advice which, thankfully, did not bog her spirit down. Instead, it stiffened her resolve to succeed and find her own path through the industry.
“When I was at drama school, when I was growing up as an actress, people always said, ‘You need to get your Indian accent down. You are going to be getting the stereotypical roles.’” she shares. “So much of what actors do, and the parts that we’re given, is out of our control. It is really down to the writers and the producers, and people having this vision of expanding their closed circle.”
After playing brief characters in such shows as Casualty and Ackley Bridge, Suman landed her first prominent role in Jodie Whittaker’s first series of Doctor Who, wherein she portrayed the character Umbreen (a younger version of lead character Yaz’s grandmother) in the well-received episode Demons of the Punjab.
“Even though it was in Doctor Who and it was in sci-fi, I think it was a really beautiful episode. And it was my first experience of die-hard fans. It was great. It was definitely nerve-wracking and a new experience, but it was just really wonderful to see that the story spoke to a lot of people,” she says.
More parts followed, which helped Amita Suman put her acting prowess on display. Each character that she took up helped her graduate to bigger parts and today she is basking in the rousing success of Netflix’s Shadow and Bone.
Shadow and Bone is currently streaming on Netflix.
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.