Madhuri Dixit was the reigning queen of Bollywood back in the 90s. She delivered a string of massive blockbusters in her heyday, including Hum Aapke Hain Koun (1994), Raja (1995), and Dil Toh Pagal Hai (1997), and cemented her position as the most sought-after actress in the industry. Having said that, her initial journey in showbiz was not that rosy as she had to face an avalanche of challenges as a newcomer.
In a recent interview, Dixit spoke about various issues she had to face at the beginning of her career. She said that she was looked down upon for being too skinny and some people even told her to put on weight.
For the uninitiated, Madhuri Dixit began her acting career with Rajshri Productions’ Abodh in 1984. However, it was the thunderous success of N Chandra’s action romantic drama Tezaab (1988) that catapulted her to stardom.
“During my time, they thought I was too skinny to begin with. ‘Yeh heroine, isko thoda mota karo (make this heroine gain weight),’ they used to say. I don’t think that that’s an issue now,” Dixit told an entertainment portal.
When asked what the present leading actresses in Bollywood could learn from her if she ever wrote an autobiography, Dixit said they should keep experimenting as it does not matter whether one succeeds or fails. She added that failures are learning points, but failures also show that sometimes you are way ahead of your time. She said they should keep doing what their gut says and go for the most challenging roles.
On the work front, Madhuri Dixit recently made her digital debut with Dharmatic Entertainment’s streaming show The Fame Game (2022), which premiered on Netflix in February. She received rave reviews for her performance as a Bollywood star in the show.
The talented actress next stars in Amazon Prime Video’s Original Maja Maa, directed by Anand Tiwari and produced by Amritpal Singh Bindra. The film also stars Ritwik Bhowmik and Sheeba Chaddha, along with Barkha Singh, Srishti Shrivastava, Rajit Kapur, and Simone Singh.
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.