Bollywood filmmaker Karan Johar has been honoured at the third annual Gold House Gala. He shared glimpses of the event and said that he is "humbled" to receive the Gold Legend Honour.
Taking to his Instagram handle, Karan Johar shared a video in which he can be seen receiving the award.
He wrote in the caption, Humbled and honoured to receive the Gold Legend Honor @goldhouseco's Gold Gala in LA...”
"Gold house is such an important platform that not only honours and acknowledges Asian Achiever's and Talent from across the globe but also stands tall for representation and inclusivity....was so grateful to receive the award from the incredible and dynamic @belabajaria who has been such an inspiration to the community in the world of media and entertainment...and my dearest friend and co founder of @goldhouseco ... @prabalgurung ...," he added.
The director continued, "Prabal is a force of nature and a powerhouse of talent... always pushing boundaries and maintaining fashion relevance for the ages... everyday!!!! He makes us all so proud!! I dedicate this award to the love of my life... My mother on Mother's Day.... 25 years of making movies and I have so many more stories to tell..."
This year's event was a star-studded affair, with luminaries such as Steven Yeun, Lucy Liu, Bang Si-Hyuk, and the iconic Hello Kitty.
The update was shared on the official Instagram handle of the Gold House Gala.
This year marks the third annual Gold Gala where top Asian Pacific and multicultural leaders convened to celebrate the 2024 A100 List, as per Variety.
Gold House announced the A100 honourees on May. 1. The list highlighted the 100 most impactful Asian Pacific changemakers in culture and society over the past year.
The Gold House A100 list honours trailblazers across the industry who are at the forefront of what the organization calls the "new gold age."
Actor, director, producer and writer Dev Patel, Jensen Huang (Nvidia's co-founder and President), Anish Melwani Chairman and CEO of LVMH Inc. of North America), content creator Rachell'Valkyrae' Hofstetter and the Maui First Responders are among the A1 honorees. The honour is given to individuals who have had the most impact within their respective industries over the past year, according to Variety.
This year's theme, A Gold New World, imagines a tomorrow for all, built by all. Luxury brand fashion designer Prabal Gurung helped bring this vision to life as the first-ever Gold Gala Creative Director.
The event took place at the historic Music Center in downtown Los Angeles on May 11.
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire
Rahul Bhatt sparks controversy over 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.