Multiple Award-winning actor Manoj Bajpayee said that he was mocked mercilessly for his poor English when he first enrolled at Delhi University. The actor, who hailed from a small town in the Indian state of Bihar, said that he wanted to ‘transform’ himself into a whole new person after enrolling at the prestigious university.
“I am from Bihar, so our pronunciation was all haywire. DU has played a major part in shaping me,” said the actor. “I always had this feeling that I am lacking a lot, coming from a place that is not exposed to this world. That sense of urgency was there in my mind and I had to reshape myself very fast. I have to adjust to this society very fast. I have to understand its ways very fast…”
The actor, who is presently busy promoting the dark comedy thriller series Killer Soup, continued, “All my roommates would make fun of me whenever I used to try and speak in English. So, I started entertaining them with my bad spoken English. I said, ‘If I don’t speak, I’ll never learn. So, let me entertain them. They used to fall laughing.”
Many years later, Bajpayee revealed, one of his old college roommates contacted him and said that he felt terrible for what happened.
“There was this guy whose father worked at the World Bank, in a very high position. He was also my roommate for two years. He used to laugh at my English the most. He used to say, ‘Hey Manoj, come here, let’s talk in English, make me laugh’. He was completely unaware of the film and theatre world.”
Also starring Konkona Sen Sharma in the lead role, Killer Soup is directed by Abhishek Chaubey. The series is scheduled to premiere on January 11 on Netflix.
Stay tuned to this space for more updates!
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.