Despite the pandemic, 2021 turned out to be a great year for young actors who mesmerised audiences with their riveting performances in films and streaming shows.
From ever-charming Rohit Saraf to dynamite of a performer Siddhant Chaturvedi, there is a breed of these young actors the audience cannot get enough of. As we roll into the new year, here are four promising young stars we cannot wait to watch more on screen in 2022.
1. Rohit Saraf
Rohit Shroff is the national crush of India. Known for giving his best to every role that he takes on, the young actor took his acting game to another level in the Netflix Original Feels Like Ishq (2021). Already a massive hit among the audience, Saraf is awaiting the release of his two most anticipated projects, Mismatched Season 2 and Vikram Vedha. Both projects are set to arrive in 2022.
3. Ishaan Khatter
Ishaan Khatter is on everyone's watchlist owing to his ability to slip into any character. While the versatile star did not have any release this year, he has multiple projects in the pipeline. He next stars in RSVP Movies’ Pippa and Excel Entertainment’s Phone Bhoot. He is also in talks for a few more projects.
3. Siddhant Chaturvedi
Siddhant Chaturvedi, who burst onto the scene by delivering a breakout performance in Gully Boy (2019) as MC Sher, was last seen in Yash Raj Films’ Bunty Aur Babli 2. Though the film did not set the cash registers jingling, the young actor did manage to win audiences’ hearts with her sincere performance as a conman. Chaturvedi next stars Gehraiyaan, Phone Bhoot, Yudhra, and Kho Gaye Hum Kahan.
4. Ahan Shetty
The newest kid on the block is Ahan Shetty who took everyone’s breath away with his intense performance in Sajid Nadiadwala’s love story Tadap (2021). He was so good in his debut film that the audience has already raised their expectations from him. It will be really interesting to see how well the young actor manages to meet high expectations riding on him. The audience is waiting for his next film announcement with bated breath.
5. Adarsh Gourav
Adarsh Gourav rose to international fame with his breakout performance in Netflix’s The White Tiger alongside Priyanka Chopra and Rajkummar Rao. The young actor has bagged some high-profile projects over the past few months, including Excel Entertainment’s Kho Gaye Hum Kahan and Extrapolations, an American anthology drama series created by Scott Z. Burns for Apple TV+.
Keep visiting this space over and again for more updates and reveals from the world of entertainment.
A scene from The Thursday Murder Club, where four retirees turn amateur detectives in a quiet British village shaken by a real murderInstagram/NetflixUK
Stills from Andaz Apna Apna
Stills from Andaz Apna Apna
Vinay Kumar Sinha
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.