After parting ways with former girlfriend Harleen Sethi earlier this year, rising Hindi film star Vicky Kaushal seems to have found love again. B-town is buzzing with rumours that the Uri: The Surgical Strike (2019) actor has lost his heart to his childhood friend and Beyond the Clouds (2018) star Malavika Mohanan. Malavika, who is new to Hindi cinema, is a popular name down South as she has starred in a number of successful Malayalam films over the past few years.
According to reports, Vicky and Malavika are childhood friends, but now their friendship has grown into love. “Vicky, Sunny (Kaushal), Malavika and her brother have known each other since they were children and enjoy camaraderie and bond together. But Vicky and Malavika apparently have become extremely close during this. Sunny and Malavika are also good friends. In Mumbai, no matter how busy he is, he will make it a point to drop in for lunch or dinner at Malavika’s home where she stays with her parents and brother. Now it seems that their relationship is becoming stronger and developing into something more intimate,” a source in the know reveals to an entertainment portal.
The source goes on to add that Malavika cannot stop gushing about Vicky. “Malavika is always talking glowingly about him to everybody. She likes him so much she cannot stop gushing about him and while Vicky is more reticent, he does these little romantic gestures like dropping in and surprising her on the sets of one of her South films and taking her out for lunch,” adds the source.
Talking about Vicky Kaushal’s upcoming projects, the much-in-demand actor is currently shooting for Shoojit Sircar’s Sardar Udham Singh. He will next be seen in Dharma Productions’ horror flick Bhoot Part 1: The Hunted Ship and period drama Takht. The actor has also signed Meghna Gulzar’s next based on the life of India’s greatest war hero Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw. Malavika Mohanan, on the other hand, next stars in Telugu film Hero.
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.