The new ITV drama Maternal, which premiered on January 16, has been receiving a great response from critics and audiences. The six-episode series follows three female doctors returning to frontline medicine in Britain after the coronavirus pandemic following maternity leave, as they try to balance their new responsibilities.
Parminder Nagra stars as Paediatric Registrar, Dr Maryam Afridi, and the actress recently opened up about how an unexpected audition landed her the lead role in the medical drama series.
Talking to the press, Nagra revealed that she was helping her co-star Lara Pulver, who plays the character of Catherine MacDiarmid, audition for the show.
“Lara was originally reading for the show,” she said. “Because of the pandemic, we have been doing a lot of our self-tapes here together in LA. But she was saying ‘I’m up for this ITV job, would you read it with me?’ and I said absolutely.”
The actress continued, “So we did the tape and she got called into a director’s (meeting)...she didn't want to feel like she was looking down a fish bowl so I started reading with her. About halfway through I get a note from (James Griffiths, director) and I thought how dare you? I am not even up for this job. We finished the tape and she said ‘I wouldn't be surprised if you got a phone call the following day’. And I went ‘No, I just did an ITV job. They are not going to want me back’. So I woke up in the morning and I did indeed get asked to put myself down on tape, which I did with Raza Jaffrey who is Lara's husband and a dear friend. Then Raza was offered a job, so we just took our whole kit kaboodle gypsy family from LA to Liverpool.”
All six episodes of Maternal are available to watch now on ITVX with episodes airing weekly on Mondays at 9 pm on ITV.
A scene from The Thursday Murder Club, where four retirees turn amateur detectives in a quiet British village shaken by a real murderInstagram/NetflixUK
Stills from Andaz Apna Apna
Stills from Andaz Apna Apna
Vinay Kumar Sinha
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.