Parminder Nagra once again takes centre stage in the popular police drama, DI Ray, which returns with Season 2 on ITV.
The actress plays the titular character, DI Rachita Ray, a homicide detective working on a murder investigation in Birmingham.
Discussing a scene from episode 2 of the latest season where her character goes to see her ex-fiancé, the corrupt cop Martyn Hunter (Jamie Bamber), now in prison for his crimes uncovered at the end of Season 1, she tells a publication,
“Honestly, I’m so happy he came back. I mean, I know he’s playing a horrible character, but just the loveliest man—of course, they always are. And it is a long scene, that scene, and I’m not saying that in a bad way. I was relishing wanting to go toe-to-toe with him and the amount of gaslighting that he is trying to put her through and has probably put her through in the past and she is not going to take it and she pushes back,” she said.
The actress continued, “It’s devastating actually, I think, for her because she probably still actually to some degree loves Martyn, and now she’s sat opposite this man who’s betrayed her. And there was a little bit in that scene where he touches her finger and I think she does feel something, but she knows that obviously this man’s a very terrible man and morally, she has to step away from him and she’s not going to let him pull one over her basically.”
She further shared, “But doing that scene that she compares to “a good meal … felt satisfying. And then I left the room and I was like, yeah, you can bugger off. But it was a real thrill to play. And actually, the crew as well, just in rehearsal, everyone was like, ‘Ooh.’ So I felt like hopefully it’s translated on screen and we were doing something right. And the place where we were filming actually, I think was a prison or an old part of a prison, and it was just all very weird and it was a little bit creepy, but it was good because it worked.”
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.