“I HAVE had a close connection to music from a young age, and it has gifted me many great moments. Here in no particular order are my top 10 musical moments and in the future, I hope to have many more…”
Charlie’s choice: British DJ and radio/TV host Charlie Sloth ranked five Asian MCs on BBC Asian Network’s Preeya Kalidas show and included me. The list had Raja Kumari, Badshah,
Raxstar, Neezy and myself. When she played a clip of my track, he responded by saying “I already know about Deelite”. I was chuffed to say the least. Also, to be a wildcard and finish second behind the joint winners was a musical moment I won’t forget for a long time. It’s an accolade that came from nowhere and I never felt this would happen to me. It still feels surreal to this date, but proves if you are persistent and work hard good things can happen.
Digbeth Mela: I will never forget performing at the Digbeth Mela in Birmingham and have my son grace the stage with me. It was a very special moment and one I still think of to this day. Maybe my son will follow in my footsteps? But getting to showcase my material in front of my family made me feel proud. It’s definitely an everlasting memory in my music journey.
Rendeh music video: Having my son in the music video for Rendeh, where he plays a young version of me is another musical moment I will cherish for years to come. I always wanted my son to be a part of my journey, so to have him in my music video was wonderful. Even to this day, I still want him involved in my music.
Swami Baracus collaboration: To have the opportunity to jump on a track with the legend Swami Baracus was one of my tick boxes completed. I always respected his game as a rapper, but also wanted to test myself to kick it with the likes of him on a track and got the opportunity with Leave It Alone. Having met him at a gig we were both performing at, I was like “Swami’s in the house” and plucked up the courage to speak to him. Now many years on, we still have a great friendship.
Premz track: The opportunity to collaborate with Premz was another defining moment in my musical career. It’s a testament that if we work hard enough as artists then we won’t get ignored. When the opportunity came, I didn’t really believe it was happening. Premz was great throughout the whole collaboration and I’m glad we did the track. It is just another opportunity and moment I’m grateful for.
Motivation: In early 2019, I wanted to quit music, but had so many artists from the scene message and inspire me to not give up. It showed there is unity within the music scene. I felt honoured by the constant messages telling me to not quit music and keep at it. I think we can sometimes let emotions get the better of us, but lessons learned through this and other experiences made me stronger, which I am grateful for.
BBC Interview: After six years of hard graft, I finally got my first ever BBC interview with Sunny and Shay. This was something I worked so hard to achieve and when it finally happened I was real happy. I was real nervous turning up to the BBC studios in London, thinking no this isn’t happening, but when I met with Sunny and Shay they were really nice, and made me feel at home.
Friends: Apart from enabling me to express my creativity, the music scene has also gifted me good friends, including fellow artists. I always make time for friends I have made and vice versa. This has allowed to me look at where I was when I started and where I am today. It’s not always about money and fame for me. I managed to make a good network of friends through music and still am blessed to have them all.
Performing live: Most artists will tell you that performing live in front of a crowd is the greatest high and I am no different. With live performances, no two shows are the same. Having the opportunity to perform at live events over the years, including melas and in my hometown of Leicester, has been a great feeling.
Being in Eastern Eye: Making it into the Eastern Eye newspaper with this article is a big highlight for me. I wasn’t going to forget you guys, now was I? When I was telling my family and friends about this, there was a glint in my eye and showed me that the Asian kid who started doing grime has come a long way.
Deelite has been making music for six years and has released two albums and one EP. The Leicester based artist fuses Asian sounds with high tempo BPM beats and continues to master his craft by making Punjabi grime music.
Visit Instagram, Spotify, Twitter and Facebook: @Deelitemc
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.