Prem Pujari: My first film as a child. I saw this young handsome charming man with coloured scarf around his neck and singing the song Shokhiyon Mein Ghola Jaye with the beautiful heroine Waheeda Rehman. I just fell in love with his style, thinking who he is and how can I meet him.
Hare Rama Hare Krishna: When I saw the song Dum Maro Dum where a girl was dancing with hippies and smoking, I was mesmerised. Then there comes Dev Anand in his red shirt and looking at this girl trying to recognise her. When the film finished in the theatre, I just
didn’t want to come out. Everyone left the hall and I sat there. That is where my crush started for the film’s heroine, Mumtaz.
Gambler: This film left an impact on me because of Dev Anand wearing check shirts. Till today, I like wearing those kind of shirts. Then the song Choodi Nahin Ye Mera Dil, where he had a black suit with red tie made another major impact on me. I remember thinking to
myself ‘this guy is very lucky’, because he can flirt with as many girls as he wants.
Tere Ghar Ke Samne: I had seen this film on TV at a time when only few people had TV sets in India. So we had to request our friend, who had a TV set in their house, to let us watch the movie. The song Dil Ka Bhanwar was shot in Qutab Minar, so I was very excited to see that because I went there on my school trip.
Swami Dada: My struggle started in Bollywood around the same time. Whenever I passed Juhu beach, there was this hoarding of the film. I had wanted to meet Dev Anand and work with him in this movie, which was being filmed at that time.
Tere Mere Sapne: I had seen this film only because of Dev Anand and my crush on
Mumtaz. I loved the song on the bicycle Ae Maine Kasam Li, which was so beautiful
and touched my heart.
Sachche Ka Bol Bala: I can never forget this film in my life because I met my idol on
its set. It was in Mehboob Studios and the airport set was erected. The shoot was on with Jackie Shroff and Dev Anand, and I was standing in one corner watching, very nervous and excited at the same time. Suddenly, I hear the shout cut. The shot was over. After sometime, Dev Anand looked at me and smiled.
Sau Crore: My first film with him as an actor. It was in Switzerland at the Geneva lake. My first shot was with him. I was very nervous, but he made me feel very comfortable. When the first shot was over, he came to me, hugged me and said you are a good actor. Keep it up.
Gangster: My second film with him as an actor, where he actually introduced me in the film. We shot the film in Belgium, Luxembourg and Mumbai. I really enjoyed working in the movie.
Main Solah Baras Ki: My third film with him as an actor and we both went to look for locations in Scotland. The whole film was shot in the Highlands and Dev Anand loved filming there. We had two actresses, Sabrina from US and Neeru Bajwa from Canada. We had a great time making this movie.
- Vijay Kumar has written the book Dev Saab, which is available to buy now on Amazon worldwide.
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.