Bollywood stars Bipasha Basu and Dino Morea on Tuesday took a trip down memory lane as they celebrated the 20 years of their horror film Raaz (2002).
Directed by Vikram Bhatt, Raaz became a breakout film for both Basu and Morea, who had individually appeared in only two films before the supernatural movie.
The film went on to become one of the biggest hits of 2002 and is often cited as among the few notable Hindi horror movies to have worked in the last two decades, both critically and at the box office.
Basu took to Instagram and shared a poster of Raaz, thanking her fans for the love they gave to the film. “Raaz - Grateful for this film. Raaz is one of my first few films which got me a direct entry into the hearts of millions of people. Thank you for keeping me in your hearts still. Sending love to the entire cast and crew,” the 43-year-old wrote.
Backed by Mukesh Bhatt, Kumar Taurani, Ramesh Taurani, Raaz and also starred Ashutosh Rana, Malini Sharma, and Ali Asgar, among others.
Morea wrote on Instagram that he is grateful that the audience still remembers the film, which benefited greatly thanks to its ensemble, Nadeem-Shravan's chartbuster music, and Sameer's lyrics.
“20 years of Raaz. I am so grateful to everyone involved in making this happen for me. Mukesh Ji, Bhatt Saab, Vikram, and my lovely co-stars Bipasha, Malini, Ashutosh Rana, and many others. It's been 20 years and still a fantastic film which so many remember. The songs till today are being played many times over. The thrill, the scare, the romance, the film, still spoken about. We did start a trend for cool, nice scary movies. So, thanks again to you, the audience for loving us," he wrote.
Raaz was eventually turned into a franchise by producers Mahesh and Mukesh Bhatt, with films like Raaz: The Mystery Continues (2009), Raaz 3 (2012), and Raaz Reboot (2016), all three headlined by Emraan Hashmi.
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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.