A nine-year-old Indian-origin girl is wowing American audiences with her singing prowess, receiving rave reviews for her performance on a popular US talent show.
Pranysqa Mishra from Florida took the TV talent show America’s Got Talent by storm last week when she belted out the Tina Turner classic “River Deep, Mountain High”.
Her powerful rendition of the song left the judges on the show Simon Cowell and Heidi Klum hugely impressed.
A report in billboard.com said Mishra’s spell-binding performance earned her the coveted ‘Golden Buzzer’ from Klum.
“I always just love singing. It makes me feel happy. Even when I was four years old, I would pretend that I have a microphone, and I would sing like I’m singing to the whole world,” the report quoted Mishra as saying.
Crediting her grandmother for her inspiration and being her driving force, Mishra said her musical idols are legends Turner, known as the Queen of Rock n Roll, singer and ‘Queen of Soul’ Aretha Franklin, and iconic American singer Whitney Houston.
“Despite admitting to some nerves, particularly about performing in front of the notoriously tough Simon Cowell, Pranysqa’s confidence shone through the moment she began singing with a commanding voice that belied her youth,” the Billboard report said.
The report quoted Klum, who hit the much-sought-after Golden Buzzer that will now send Mishra straight to the live shows, as saying: “Oh my gosh, I did not expect that. We expect a lot of things, but I did not expect that.” “I want you to call your grandmother and say that Heidi Klum pushed the Golden Buzzer for you,” Klum, a German-American model, television host, producer, and businesswoman, said to Mishra.
Drowned by golden confetti that celebrated her achievement, an emotional and elated Mishra said: “My dream is coming true. I can’t believe it.” Mishra was then joined by her family on the stage for an “emotional celebration, with tears of joy and hugs all around”, the billboard.com report said.
Klum then helped Mishra call her grandmother to share the news of her accomplishment on the show. “You are absolutely incredible,” Klum told the young talent, according to the report.
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.