Award-winning Indian actor R Madhavan is facing heat on Twitter over an old video shared by him. The video shows him telling a joke about polygamy and Muslim men. Netizens have called out the actor for "Islamophobia."
In the video, Madhavan says, "He is a very profound doctor, a gastroenterologist, and he got a call from his patient, Mr. Abdul, and he said, "Doctor Saab, my wife is very, very ill. She is in a lot of pain; she has a stomach ache, and she cannot sit. Can I come over to your clinic?” The doctor said, "Yes, by all means." And, like all patients today, Abdul had done his research. He has gone to the internet and said, "She may be infected with this one or that one."
The 3 Idiots (2009) actor adds, "The doctor asked him not to worry." He checked her and then told him, "Let me tell you, she has an infected appendix. So, I have to do surgery, and she will be fine.” The surgery was done, and she was fine. Abdul was a happy man. One year later, Abdul called the doctor again and said, "Sir, my wife has got a stomach ache; please do an appendix operation, and she will be fine." The doctor said, "Listen, I am the doctor. Let me do the diagnosis; please bring her to the clinic, and then we will fix it."
Madhavan further detailed how Abdul kept insisting that the doctor must fix an operation date immediately and must not bother about the diagnosis at all. “The doctor finally lost it and said, "Listen, I am the doctor; let me do the diagnosis. Every human being only has one appendix, and I have already taken out the appendix. So please do not tell me how to do my job.” Abdul patiently waited for the doctor to finish with his assumptions, and then he shot back very meekly, "Sir, I agree with you." Every human being can have only one appendix, but a man can have two wives, right?”
The video was shared by businessman Harsh Goenka recently. Twitter users took to the comment section of his post and slammed Madhavan for his remarks. Here are some of the comments:
"Didn’t expect this from him." But as people say, a great actor may not be a great human. I have many non-Muslim friends who remarried when their first marriage didn’t work out. Some even remarried within a few months. So, this 2nd wife story is nothing but intolerance/hatred."
On the work front, R Madhavan was last seen in Rocketry: The Nambi Effect (2022).
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.