The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) on Friday (20) announced the winners for its 12th edition. Diversity through Cinema was the theme of the festival, and it received an overwhelming response from across the globe.
Vidya Balan, Manoj Bajpayee, Suriya, Samantha Akkineni and others won top honours at IFFM. The award ceremony took place virtually.
Here’s the full list of the winners…
Best Feature Film - Soorarai Pottru (Tamil)
Best Performance Male (Feature) - Suriya Sivakumar (Soorarai Pottru – Tamil)
Best Performance Female (Feature) - Vidya Balan (Sherni – Hindi), Honorary Mention to Nimisha Sajayan (The Great Indian Kitchen - Malayalam)
Best Director - Anurag Basu (Ludo - Hindi), Honorary Mention to Prithvi Konanur (Pinki Elli? – Kannada)
Best Series - Mirzapur Season 2
Best Actress in a Series - Samantha Akkineni (The Family Man 2)
Best Actor in a Series - Manoj Bajpayee (The Family Man 2)
Equality in Cinema (Short Film) - Sheer Qorma
Equality in Cinema Award (Feature Film) - The Great Indian Kitchen (Malayalam)
Best Indie Film - Fire in the Mountains
Diversity in Cinema Award - Pankaj Tripathi
Best Documentary Film – Shut Up Sona
On winning Best Actress in a series for The Family Man 2, Samantha Akkineni said, "First time at this festival. To be here amongst such immense talent. I’m grateful and it’s such a huge honour. Thanks to Raj and DK to see past the cute girl image I have and to give me this role which is so different from what I have done so far. To give me this character that has so many layers and such diverse parts to it. It’s my big dive into OTT and what an amazing show to do it with."
Suriya, who won the Best Actor award, stated, "I’m sure all the nominees have given their best. This film is very special. This is the first award I’m getting for this film. This is one of the first films that came to me during the pandemic. Thanks to all the fans who have given us so much love. In my career, I felt bored with what I was doing after having worked for 20 years. So thanks to my director Sudha - this film was her 10 years dream - she worked 4 years on writing or his film. The character of Maara will not be anything without her. I couldn’t ask for more."
Vidya Balan, who won the Best Actress award for her performance in Sherni, said, “I’m thrilled to be receiving the award for Sherni which was shot during the pandemic. Thanks to my director Amit Masurkar, my producer Abundantia – who pulled all stops to make this film during these uncertain times."
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.