A LOT has been said about Karan Johar being a brilliant mastermind when it comes to launching new talent, including children of famous film stars.
While he deserves some credit for working with newcomers, Johar’s track record with aspiring actors is poor, and for many, it has turned out to be more of a curse than a blessing. A strong first film typically sets up a debutant for a solid career in cinema, but when it fails, the individual is often left swimming against the tide. This is exactly what has happened with Ibrahim Ali Khan, whose recently released disastrous debut movie Nadaaniyan has been a major setback.
Despite having dashing looks and insider connections, the son of movie stars Amrita Singh and Saif Ali Khan has had a horrific start with a truly dreadful film – one that is un intentionally funny, poorly acted, and cringeworthy. Though protected from the shame of low box-office collections by a direct-to streaming re lease on Netflix, Ibrahim still couldn’t escape scathing reviews and heavy trolling on social media.
As the producer and an experienced industry power-player, Johar must take much of the blame for failing to spot the obvious mistakes in the awful film, which included recycling old story tropes and making the lead cast appear amateurish.
A similar scenario unfolded when Ananya Panday and Tara Sutaria were launched in Johar’s spiritual sequel Student of the Year 2, which was laughable and seemed to take audiences for granted.
Before that, Johar introduced the late superstar Sridevi’s daughter Janhvi Kapoor in the disappointing 2018 drama Dhadak.
Seven years later, she is still struggling to establish herself, despite repeated opportunities.
Ibrahim Ali Khan in 'Nadaaniyan'
Johar’s biggest misfire was the 2022 disaster Liger. A movie that was supposed to launch Telugu superstar Vijay Deverakonda into Bollywood with a bang, but was so shockingly bad and such a huge box-office disaster that it likely destroyed any chances he had of making it in Hindi cinema. Deverakonda hasn’t acted in a Bollywood film since and likely never will. It was also announced in 2022 that actor Sanjay Kapoor’s daughter, Shanaya Kapoor, would be launched by Johar in Bedhadak, but that project was qui etly shelved, reportedly leaving the young starlet traumatised.
Shanaya is now hoping to get her career back on track with her forthcoming film Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan opposite Vikrant Massey, but any hype surrounding her has dissipated, and it looks set to flop.
More recently, television actor Lakshya got his big film break in Johar’s action movie Kill, which generated a lot of hype globally, but ultimately didn’t perform at the box office as expected. The disturbingly extreme violence in the film overshadowed everything else, including its lead star.
Fans of Johar will point to his successful launch of Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan, and Sidharth Malhotra in 2012’s Student of the Year. In reality, only Alia Bhatt has be come a big star, while Dhawan and Malhotra’s careers have largely been defined by failures. Had Ibrahim Ali Khan taken a closer look at Johar’s history of failed at tempts to launch new talent, he might have chosen a different path instead of agreeing to be part of a career-killing movie dumped directly onto a streaming platform.
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.