The Emmy Awards nominations for the year 2022 have been announced by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, with the HBO drama Succession leading the pack with 25 nominations. It was followed by Ted Lasso and The White Lotus with 20 nods apiece. Comedy series Hacks and Only Murders in the Building were also among the most nominated with 17 each.
Other notable shows include Ozark, which bagged nominations in three of the major Drama categories, as well as Yellowjackets and Barry. Squid Game managed to pick up two major nominations including Outstanding Dramatic Series, with Lee Jung-jae getting the nod for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series.
The Emmy Awards nominations for 2022 did not forget to acknowledge the slow but steady rise in South Asian representation on-screen as several prominent South Asian faces received a nod this year. Let’s have a look at their journeys in international television.
Nick Mohammed for Ted Lasso: Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Well-known for his alter-ego Mr Swallow, Mohammed has been nominated in Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series category for his role as Nate in the Apple TV+ show Ted Lasso. He has previously worked with some of the biggest stars in British comedy, including Julia Davis on Sally4Ever, Greg Davies on Cuckoo, and Jamie Demetriou in Stath Lets Flats. He has also appeared in major Hollywood films including The Martian, alongside Matt Damon. He was the voice of Piglet in 2018’s Christopher Robin.
Tan France for Queer Eye: Best Host for a Reality or Competition Program
In 2018, Netflix roped in France in its reboot of the makeover show Queer Eye, which emerged as a runaway Emmy-winning hit. The global success of the show shot him to overnight fame and, additionally, established him as one of the most sought-after personal stylists in the world and the first openly LGBTQ South Asian man on television. Tan France was born Tanveer Safdar and grew up in a strict Pakistani Muslim family in South Yorkshire, England.
Padma Lakshmi for Top Chef: Best Host for a Reality or Competition Program
Lakshmi is a woman of many talents – she is a renowned television host, producer, food expert, New York Times best-selling author, and model. Her Emmy-winning series Top Chef has been nominated for 37 Emmys so far, including her own two-time nomination for Outstanding Host for A Reality-Competition Program. It is going to be interesting to see if she manages to win the honour this year or not.
Himesh Patel for Station Eleven: Best Actor in a Limited Series
Second-generation Indian-British actor Himesh Patel, who portrayed the role of Jeevan Chaudhary, a paparazzo turned paramedic working as the town doctor in a post-pandemic world in HBO Max’s Station Eleven, has been nominated in Best Actor in a Limited Series category. The actor became a household name when he played the character of Tamwar Masood on the British soap opera EastEnders (2007—2016).
The Emmys are slated to air on September 12 at 8 pm ET.
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.