Bollywood star Irrfan Khan took home the best actor trophy for his realistic and effective portrayal of a middle-class father in Hindi Medium, while romantic-comedy Bareilly ki Barfi earned other top two honours, including the best director award for Ashwiny Iyer at the 63rd Filmfare Awards.
The second award for Bareilly ki Barfi came for Rajkummar Rao in the best supporting actor category. Held on Saturday, in Mumbai, the prestigious award ceremony gave away the best actor (female) award to Vidya Balan for her heartwarming performance of a housewife-turned-radio jockey in Tumhari Sulu.
It was not only Irrfan but even Hindi Medium won in highest category - taking home the best film award. The dramedy, which marked the debut of director Saket Choudhary, was hit with the masses and the critics, and became one of the first successes of Bollywood in 2017, which until then suffered a dry spell at the box office.
Much like the last year, the award ceremony also more or less belonged to Rajkummar. He won the best actor (critics) award for his hard-hitting performance in survival drama Trapped. The film also won in technical categories - best editing and best sound design.
His Newton, which was selected as India's official entry for the upcoming Oscars in the best foreign film category, also received two honours - best film (critics) and best original story for its writer-director Amit V Masurkar.
Critics choice for best actor (female) went to teenage star Zaira Wasim for Secret Superstar. The film also earned an award in the best supporting actor (female) category for Meher Vij, who played Zaira's mother.
Actor-filmmaker Konkona Sensharma bagged the best debut director for A Death in the Gunj. The suspense drama also won in the best costume and best cinematography categories.
Jagga Jasoos might have been a box office dud but the film won big for its music. Pritam took home the best music album award, while Amitabh Bhattacharya received the honour for best lyrics. Pritam also bagged the award for the film's background score.
Jagga Jasoos also won in the category of best choreography for Vijay Ganguly and Ruel Dausan Varindani for the song Galti se mistake.
The best playback singer (female) went to debutante Meghna Mishra for the song Nachdi Phira (Secret Superstar), while singing sensation Arijit Singh received the best playback singer (male) award for Roke na ruke naina from Badrinath Ki Dulhania.
Veteran music composer Bappi Lahiri and actor Mala Sinha were honoured with the lifetime achievement award.
Ayushmann Khurrana-starrer Shubh Mangal Saavdhan earned writer Hitesh Kewalya the award for best dialogue.
Critically-acclaimed drama Mukti Bhawan got Shubhashish Bhutiani the trophy for best screenplay.
Superstar Salman Khan's blockbuster Tiger Zinda Hai received the best action award. Arjun Rampal's Daddy won in the category of best production design.
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.