Reports of Nora Fatehi filing a defamation case against Jacqueline Fernandez have been doing the rounds in the media since yesterday. Fernandez’s lawyer, Prashant Patil has now said that they are ready to fight it out aggressively in court, and even plan to file a countersuit.
For those not in the know, both Bollywood actresses were questioned by the Indian Enforcement Directorate over the past couple of months in connection with an approximately £1,95,23,980 extortion case connected to conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar. It was reported that Fernandez was also dating the conman.
If Indian news portals are to be believed, the defamation suit filed by Fatehi reads, “Jacqueline Fernandes sought to criminally defame the complainant in order to destroy her career to further her own interests, since they are both working in the same industry and have similar backgrounds, amongst other reasons.”
The defamatory case against Fernandez is filed over the latter’s written pleading before the court. The Kick (2014) actress submitted in the court that “she was being falsely implicated by the ED while celebs such as Nora Fatehi who had also received gifts from conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar had been made witnesses.”
Fernandez’s lawyer Prashant Patil has now said, “Right now, Jacqueline will not react to it as of now because the court has not taken cognizance of that suit yet. It is only Nora, or somebody, who has leaked the news into the media. Let the court take cognizance, if they do, we will definitely go for quashing it. And once Nora steps into the box, we will definitely conduct cross-examination.”
He continued, “First, where did this come from? Fernandez has replied in the court to the higher authority where there was me, ED and the authority. And these proceedings are not made in the public domain. If that is not made in the public domain, it is not defamation… During the course of arguments, whatever is said, cannot be raised to defamation and can’t be put in public domain. If certain media agencies have pulled out her responses and circulated, it is for the media agencies to answer,” he says.
He also added that he has not received any defamation suit copy from Nora and if they do, they will respond to it very strongly. “I have not got any official copy out of the courtroom yet, whatever I’ve gotten is only from the media. Even the court can also reject the notice… It is for the court to decide. It is premature at this stage. But if she has actually done it, we will deal with it very strongly. And once Jacqueline is out of it, then, we will build a countersuit of defamation,” he added.
Patil further said, “That is very unfortunate because Jacqueline has utmost respect for Nora to begin with. She has not consciously given any statement, forget about Nora, about anything for that matter. She has consciously stayed away from making any kind of a statement. If something like this comes up in the media circle, it will be dealt with legally. That being said, we will fight it very aggressively. If Jacqueline is dragged to the court, we are ready to fight it aggressively in the court.”
A scene from The Thursday Murder Club, where four retirees turn amateur detectives in a quiet British village shaken by a real murderInstagram/NetflixUK
Stills from Andaz Apna Apna
Stills from Andaz Apna Apna
Vinay Kumar Sinha
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.