Anjli Mohindra, the star of Vigil and The Sarah Jane Adventures, has admitted she is ‘not sure’ she would take on the role of a suicide bomber in BBC One drama Bodyguard if offered it now.
The 32-year-old actress played a suspected suicide bomber named Nadia in the drama watched by over a 17million viewers in 2018. “I’m not sure I would play that character now,” she says.
Starring alongside Richard Madden and Keeley Hawes, Anjli’s character was first introduced as a suicide bomber who’d apparently been forced into the position by her husband. It later turned out that she was the hateful mastermind behind the terrorist plot that drove the series.
However, while Anjli has previously shared how ‘incredible’ the experience was as part of the Jed Mercurio thriller, she probably wouldn’t take up the opportunity now.
“I don’t know if we’d have a character like that now. At first, I wasn’t keen to play the part, but then I felt like there was more to Nadia than we’d seen with roles like that.” That wasn’t a high bar to set. “I think it still didn’t ask the right questions. If we would have found out how she got into that situation, we might have understood her a bit more. She’d have been humanised,” she continues.
Four years later, are the roles available to women actors of colour broader in scope? “The hurdles that women face are intersectional. A lot of the gatekeepers in our industry are male, and they feel like a white hetero male protagonist is always safer, but that’s definitely changing,” she says.
She’s thought about moving to the US. “Actors who aren’t white are taken much more seriously over there,” she says, pointing to Riz Ahmed, Jodie Turner-Smith, and Cush Jumbo, whose careers have flourished in the West. “I’m very tempted by it. I’m still at that age where it feels doable.”
Her next project is The Lazarus Project, a time-bending drama written by Giri/Haji creator Joe Barton.
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.