Popular actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is very close to her family. Despite her chock-o-block schedule, she makes sure to celebrate special days with them. The former Miss World is celebrating her mother Vrinda Rai’s birthday today and she took to social media to wish her on her special day.
Sharing a smiling photo of her mother on Instagram, Aishwarya wrote, “Happy birthday, dearest darling mommy, love you forever and beyond. God bless always!”
The Guru (2007) actress wrote the message in uppercase letters and dropped several hearts in between her wish.
Aishwarya also gave a sneak peek into the private celebration by sharing two more photos in quick succession. In the second photo, she is with her mother, husband Abhishek Bachchan, and their daughter Aaradhya. Aaradhya is seen wrapping her left hand around her grandmother’s shoulder. There is a beautiful flower in her right hand.
The third photo, which seems to be clicked by Abhishek Bachchan, has Aishwarya and Aaradhya posing with the birthday girl. The actress captioned both the photos with just heart emojis.
On the work front, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan will next be seen in the much-awaited historical drama Ponniyin Selvan, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Mani Ratnam. The high-profile film also stars Vikram, Karthi, Jayaram, Trisha, Jayam Ravi, and Aishwarya Lekshmi in prominent roles, and Prabhu, Sarathkumar, Vikram Prabhu, and Sobhita Dhulipala in supporting roles.
Oscar-winning music composer AR Rahman has scored music for the period drama. Originally made in Tamil, Ponniyin Selvan will simultaneously release in other Indian languages also, including Hindi and Telugu. The first part of the film arrives on September 30, 2022.
Keep visiting this space over and again for more updates and reveals from the world of entertainment.
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.