Life of Pi actor Suraj Sharma has joined the cast of How I Met Your Father, a spin-off of the Emmy-winning sitcom How I Met Your Mother. It stars Hilary Duff in the lead role and according to Deadline, the series will get a release on Hulu.
The show is created and written by Isaac Aptaker and Elizabeth Berger. It talks about Sophie (Duff) and her friends who are in the midst of figuring out their identities, aspirations, and how to fall in love in the age of dating apps.
Apart from Suraj Sharma and Hilary Duff, the series will also star Chris Lowell, Francia Raisa, Tom Ainsley, and Tien Tran. Raisa will portray the character of Valentina, Sophie's roommate, Ainsley plays the role of Charlie, Chris Lowell will be seen as Jesse, and Tran will portray Ellen, Jesse's adopted sister.
Meanwhile, Sharma will play the character of Sid, Jesse's best friend and roommate. How I Met Your Mother is one of the best sitcoms we have seen, so, the expectations from How I Met Your Father are also quite high.
Talking about Suraj Sharma, the actor started his journey with the 2012 release Life of Pi. He later starred in films like Million Dollar Arm (2014), Umrika (2015), Burn Your Maps (2016), Phillauri (2017), The Hungry (2017), Happy Death Day 2U (2019), Killerman (2019), and The Illegal (2019).
Sharma has also been a part of shows like Homeland, God Friended Me, and Little America.
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.