By: Mohnish Singh
The year 2020 turned out to be a difficult one for all of us, but for Bollywood actress Rhea Chakraborty, it was a monstrous year. The actress lost his boyfriend Sushant Singh Rajput to suicide. The Kedarnath (2018) actor was found hanging from the ceiling of his apartment in Mumbai. His sudden demise put an unwanted spotlight on the actress who was accused of killing her boyfriend. After a gruelling media trial, months of investigation by various agencies, and unfathomable mental trauma, Chakraborty is currently out on bail and trying to collect herself.
There is no denying the fact that her acting career has taken a beating after what has happened to her over the past few months. Having said that, there is no dearth of filmmakers who still want to work with her.
“Of course, I want to work with her. She is pretty and talented. And now people want to see her. I don’t mind working with her even if she is out on bail. If Sanjay Dutt could be so busy during his bail phase why cannot this girl work? She and her poor family has gone through a lot. All the pain would make her a better actress than she was a year ago,” a well-known filmmaker tells a publication.
Rhea Chakraborty will shortly be seen in writer-director Rumi Jaffrey’s Chehre, which she had completed before the demise of SSR. Jaffrey is ready to work with the actress on a new film. Talking about the same, he tells the publication, “I have throughout maintained she is an innocent victim. She and her family did not deserve this. Her father has served the country for years. I worked with her before all this in Chehre. I was going to shoot a love story in London with Sushant and Rhea for producer Vashu Bhagnani after the lockdown. But God had other plans.”
When asked if he will revive the same project with Rhea and another hero, or he will sign her for another project, the filmmaker says, “I will work with her for sure. She deserves another chance. She is talented and beautiful and she has gone through a lot.”
Chehre, also starring Amitabh Bachchan and Emraan Hashmi in lead roles, is scheduled to release on April 30, 2021.
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.