India shone really bright at the prestigious 95th Academy Awards by securing two wins for the country. SS Rajamouli's magnum opus RRR (2022) won an Oscar in the Best Original Song category for its hugely popular song "Naatu Naatu" and Kartiki Gonsalves' documentary short The Elephant Whisperers won in its category as well.
Multiverse dramedy Everything Everywhere All At Once emerged as the top winner at the ceremony, taking home the coveted Best Picture trophy along with awards for its star cast --Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan, and Jamie Lee Curtis. Check out the Oscars 2023 complete winners list here:
1. Best Picture
Everything Everywhere All At Once
2. Actor In A Leading Role
Brendan Fraser (The Whale)
3. Actress In A Leading Role
Michelle Yeoh (Everything Everywhere All At Once)
4. Actor In A Supporting Role
Ke Huy Quan (Everything Everywhere All at Once)
5. Actress In A Supporting Role
Jamie Lee Curtis (Everything Everywhere All at Once)
6. Animated Feature Film
Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio
7. Cinematography
All Quiet On The Western Front (James Friend)
8. Costume Design
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (Ruth Carter)
9. Directing
Everything Everywhere All At Once (Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert)
10. Documentary (Feature)
Navalny (Daniel Roher, Odessa Rae, Diane Becker, Melanie Miller, and Shane Boris)
11. Documentary (Short Subject)
The Elephant Whisperers (Kartiki Gonsalves and Guneet Monga)
12. Film Editing
Everything Everywhere All At Once (Paul Rogers)
13. International Feature Film
All Quiet On The Western Front (Germany)
14. Makeup And Hairstyling
The Whale (Adrien Morot, Judy Chin, and Annemarie Bradley)
15. Music (Original Score)
All Quiet On The Western Front (Volker Bertelmann)
16. Music (Original Song)
Naatu- Naatu (RRR; Music by M.M. Keeravaani; Lyric by Chandrabose)
17. Production Design
All Quiet On The Western Front (Production Design: Christian M. Goldbeck; Set Decoration: Ernestine Hipper)
18. Short Film (Animated)
The Boy, The Mole, The Fox And The Horse (Charlie Mackesy and Matthew Freud)
19. Short Film (Live Action)
An Irish Goodbye (Tom Berkeley and Ross White)
20. Visual Effects
Avatar: The Way Of Water (Joe Letteri, Richard Baneham, Eric Saindon, and Daniel Barrett)
21. Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
Women Talking (Screenplay by Sarah Polley)
22. Writing (Original Screenplay)
Everything Everywhere All At Once (Written by Daniel Kwan & Daniel Scheinert)
23. Sound
Top Gun: Maverick (Mark Weingarten, James H. Mather, Al Nelson, Chris Burdon and Mark Taylor)
The 95th Academy Awards were held at the Dolby Theatre at the Ovation Hollywood. The ceremony was hosted by Jimmy Kimmel.
Stay tuned 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.