Kate Winslet has a remarkable career trajectory. She rose to fame with her role in James Cameron's Titanic and gained further recognition for her performances in Finding Neverland, Little Children, The Holiday, and many more.
Kate received numerous accolades including an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, and two Primetime Emmy Awards. In addition to numerous awards, now the ace actress has received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Munich International Film Festival, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The audience at Munich's Deutsches Theatre shouted when Winslet entered the stage to receive her award and talked about the European premiere of her latest film, Ellen Kuras' biography Lee, in which she plays war photographer Lee Miller.
Lee is a 2023 British biographical drama film directed by Ellen Kuras, adapted from the 1985 biography The Lives of Lee Miller by Antony Penrose. It stars Kate Winslet as war journalist Lee Miller. The film made its world premiere at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival. It will be released theatrically in the United Kingdom on September 13, 2024.
"It's like I'm a film star!" said Winslet. "No really, this is not how I usually get treated...I'm just going to lap it up."
David Kross, Winslet's young German co-star from The Reader, presented her with the CineMerit award, recalling that they first met "16 years ago when I was just 17 years old, had only made two films and had just left school. And you were Kate Winslet."
Kross shared, how great "it was to celebrate turning 18 with you," a reference to a scene in The Reader, which was shot on his 18th birthday, months after the rest of the film had wrapped, to allow Kross to reach legal age. "You were also my intimacy coordinator, a concept that didn't even exist in those years," he said.
"You poor boy," said Winslet, thanking Kross. "We put you through a lot [on The Reader]," before noting that she had "been that. I had been 17 [on her film debut Heavenly Creatures]."
The Munich CineMerit Prize was for Winslet's life's work, "you have won every prize under the sun, but this is the one you are missing," the ceremony moderator said, but the actress was most passionate about Lee, a project she has been working on for the better part of a decade and her first film as a fully-credited producer.
"I can't believe we did it," she said of the film, which looks at a key decade in Lee Miller's life, when the one-time fashion model-turned-photographer transformed herself into a war photographer, as per The Hollywood Reporter.
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.