By Reena Kumar
SINCE making his debut in 2010, Romesh Ranganathan has built a strong following across the UK and earned several industry accolades. He has written for and supported a number of high-profile comedians including Ricky Gervais and Bill Burr and in 2015 premiered his own BBC3 show, Asian Provocateur.
Moving from teaching to comedy was quite a career change; what inspired it?
One day I just realised how unrewarding it was to help children.
Who are you inspired by?
My younger brother has a work ethic that I find very inspiring. I would admire him if he wasn’t mum’s favourite.
Where do you source the material for your shows?
I sit around and watch my family. I warn them that if they don’t do anything interesting we won’t be able to pay the mortgage.
How does your wife feel about you describing your second child as a “little a***hole” on national television?
She says it’s not fair as he’s actually getting a bit bigger now.
How do you feel about your mother’s newly found fame after her appearance
in Asian Provocateur?
I’m not jealous. It just annoys me that she has got famous without having to do any work for it. Yes I am jealous.
How would you describe your relationship with your mum Shanthi?
My mum and I wear our hearts on our sleeves but we are very close. My mum went through great hardship bringing us up and I will never forget that. I owe her everything. But she texts me too much.
Can we expect any other programmes with her?
My mum has unfortunately reached the point where she is getting offers without me. So you’d have to ask her agent, who is also my agent. But she won’t tell me.
There aren’t many Asians in mainstream comedy and those who are get accused of focusing on their race. Why do you think that is?
They don’t focus on race all the time, that’s a myth. And even if they did, why shouldn’t they? As a comic, you should be able to talk about whatever you want. Personally, I think there are too many Asian comedians – it is eroding my USP.
Do you think it’s important to see more diversity in the arts and entertainment world?
I think enforced diversity at the top end is a quick fix that leads to resentment. I would like to see steps taken to see more diversity from the ground up, so that it is no longer “book a brown or a black or a woman or a gay for this show quickly” but the system means that we have these people properly represented as a matter of course.
I think this should apply behind the scenes too. The lack of diversity in production is a bloody joke. I have met one black and one Asian director since I started doing this and that was at one of the secret “minorities in entertainment” meetings we have every month. The food is incredible.
What would you say to encourage aspiring comedians into the industry?
There are too many comics – please give up. But if you must continue, write lots, gig lots and be easy to work with. The rest is luck. But mainly, give up.
You have said before that you don’t see yourself as successful – why is that?
Because success in comedy is fragile and transient. And it makes you constantly feel like a fraud. I spend every day waiting for my agent to call me and say: “Rom, they’ve
found out you’re s*** – it’s over.”
Finally, what exciting projects are you working on?
Every time I mention something in the pipeline in an interview, it doesn’t end up happening. So I’m planning on giving up comedy and going back to teaching.
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.