“GROWING up I was always a very positive girl, but there were times I felt down and disheartened. In those times, there were ways I would motivate and pick myself up. I would like to share a few of these tips with you all.”
Take a break: We are all so busy in our lives, looking after everyone else, that sometimes we forget about ourselves. But remember, if you are not happy within, how can you look after others and keep them happy. So make sure you take time out and treat yourself. I make sure that I take time out for myself to do anything I like, such as a coffee date, gym session, playing golf or even shopping.
Don’t bottle up your problems: As humans, we all have one thing in common, in that we all like to share our happy news with a big celebration, but when upset or sad, we like to keep it to ourselves. Learn to open up about your problems to your close ones. I believe that problems, including those of health (physical or mental), should be shared openly because you never know who can come up with a solution or suggest a treatment.
Learn from your mistakes: Learn from your mistakes instead of letting them put you down. Trust me, even the most powerful and influential people make mistakes, but the difference is that they learn from them and move on. Use your mistakes as stepping-stones not as closed doors.
Perseverance: Not giving up has been my motto all my life, and this is what I have been trying to instil in my kids. Work hard and face all the hurdles full on. Give your best shot at everything, and most importantly, adhere to what you are doing and persevere. If you stop half-way up the mountain, then you will never see the view from the top.
Be optimistic: My greatest strength is that I am very optimistic. I always expect a positive outcome out of everything that I do (not that I always get a positive outcome). This means while doing a task, I am actually enjoying it and giving it my 100 per cent. Outcomes are mostly the results of our hard work, so if you give it all, no matter what the outcome is, you will be satisfied with your efforts.
Stay physically and mentally happy: Physical wellbeing is something we are aware of, and we look after ourselves by eating healthy and working out. But we all forget that our mental health is equally important. Mental health is our ‘emotional and psychological health’. A mentally healthy human feels happy, content, can cope with life, and play a vital part in their family, community and workplace. So it is very important to look after your mental health, along with your physical health. I am passionate about raising awareness on mental health as I have learnt this by personal experience that most are not aware of the condition and the issues that go with it.
Show respect: Treat others the way you would like to be treated. In today’s world, there is too much ‘me’ instead of ‘we’, so be respectful of your surroundings. We have more people, but we seem to be separating ourselves. My concern is ‘what kind of world are we going to leave for our children and future generations’. Teach your children to be kind and to respect others. You can only do that by setting examples for them.
Travel and meet new people: I love travelling, seeing new places, meeting new people, broadening my horizons, and sampling new cuisine. It’s nice to know that people globally are the same. A smile is a smile, a frown is a frown and a family is a family. I have learnt from my travels that we are not that different from each other. Travel as far as you can, and you will know what I mean.
Manage time wisely: If there is something I have learnt from my life and especially in the last 12 months, it’s that time is precious and unexpected things can happen. If there’s something you want to do, somewhere you want to go or somebody you want to talk to, just do it. You never know what the tide will bring tomorrow.
Be happy: Just remember you are you, a beautiful, unique, special person, so just be happy with who you are. Think positive, and positive things will happen to you. ‘Life is 10 per cent what happens to you and 90 per cent how you react to it’. So be happy and make the people around you happy too.
Rose Marok is Mrs United Kingdom international 2019 and Mrs India UK 2019 classic. Visit Facebook: @rose.marok and Instagram & Twitter: @Rosemarok
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.