India and Indians are in a celebratory mood today. Two films from the country registered a thunderous triumph at the 95th Academy Awards and made every Indian proud.
While the chartbuster song “Naatu Naatu” from SS Rajamouli’s epic action-drama film RRR won an Oscar for Best Original Song, making history as the first homemade film from the South Asian country to win the honour, The Elephant Whisperers, directed by Kartiki Gonsalves and produced by Guneet Monga, won Best Documentary Short Subject, scripting history by winning 1st Oscar for an Indian production in this category and the third to be nominated after The House That Ananda Built in 1969 and An Encounter With Faces which competed for Best Documentary Short in 1979, respectively.
RRR, a film about two real freedom fighters (Alluri Sitarama Raju and Komaram Bheem) in British India, has been winning hearts since it hit the marquee in March last year. However, its premiere on Netflix months after a successful theatrical release turned it into a global phenomenon.
A number of high-profile filmmakers, writers, and critics from Hollywood heaped praises on the SS Rajamouli directorial. The film delivered several housefull shows in Japan and saw people grooving to the famous “Naatu Naatu” song during its recently held largest screening in a Los Angeles theatre.
The big win scored by “Naatu Naatu” at the Oscars 2023 saw several members of the Indian film fraternity coming together to congratulate team RRR. From Rajinikanth and Chiranjeevi to Academy Award-winning composer AR Rahman and Telugu superstar Mahesh Babu, a number of prominent names from across the industry extended their wishes after the glorious victory of “Naatu Naatu” and also The Elephant Whisperers.
But “Naatu Naatu” and The Elephant Whisperers’ big win at Oscars 2023 means much more to Indians and Indian cinema. It means Hollywood will now start looking more seriously at Indian cinema. It means Indian cinema is never going to lose its sheen; it is only going to shine brighter and brighter. It will also inspire more storytellers to explore stories deeply rooted in our culture. We are a land full of diverse stories and it is great to see that the world is finally opening its eyes to them thanks to filmmakers like Rajamouli and Kartiki Gonsalves.
This Oscar win is also going to create a conducive ecosystem where actors, filmmakers, and technicians from India get ample opportunities to show their talent not only in Hollywood and other film-producing industries also. Most importantly, the world now knows that Indian cinema is not just about Bollywood. There are several other equally talented and capable moviemaking industries across the country.
The 95th Academy Awards was live-streamed on Disney+ Hotstar in India.
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.