Popular actress and activist Jameela Jamil has called out the backlash that Jacinda Ardern has been receiving after announcing her resignation as the prime minister of New Zealand.
The Good Place actress posted a screenshot of an article by BBC news titled, Jacinda Ardern resigns: Can women really have it all?
Jamil wrote in text on the picture, “Yeah women can have it all. She had it all, did it all, smashed it all, and now has even more because she has the agency to decide when she is done on HER time. She may not be prime minister anymore but she was always a queen.”
Captioning the picture, the actress said, “5 years of being revolutionary, and leaving on her own terms. That IS having it all. Two old men in England resigned because they were so despised by the country and had FAILED so colossally… And no headlines from the BBC about “can Men really have it all?” The woman led the only perfect pandemic response and is WELL OVERDUE a break. She’s handing over one of the only countries still intact over to someone else who hasn’t just carried a country through a fucking 3 year global crisis. “Love her forever and ever amen.”
Ardern, who became the youngest female head of government in the world when she was voted to power as New Zealand’s prime minister in 2017, aged 37, is quitting ahead of this year’s election saying she no longer has “enough in the tank” to lead.
“With such a privileged role comes responsibility — the responsibility to know when you are the right person to lead, and also when you are not,” she said in a surprise announcement on Thursday. “I know what this job takes, and I know that I no longer have enough in the tank to do it justice.”
Ardern will step down by 7 February.
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.