Bollywood superstar Sanjay Dutt has fought many battles in his personal life, one of them being in 2020 when he was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer.
The actor recently opened up about his cancer journey and said that his first reaction to the devastating news was – “I don't want any treatment.” This was despite the fact that he had lost close family members to fatal decease.
“I have a history of cancer in my family. My mom (Nargis) died of pancreatic cancer, and my late wife (Richa Sharma) died of brain cancer. So, the first thing I said was, I don't want to take chemotherapy,” Dutt says. “If I’m supposed to die, I will just die, but I don’t want any treatment.”
The actor, who was speaking on the sidelines of an event at a hospital, continues “I was taken to the hospital, but the cancer news was not broken to me properly. My wife, my family, or my sisters, nobody was around me at that time. I was all alone and suddenly this guy comes and tells me, ‘You have cancer.’”
“I saw my family break down around me. If I fall sick or if I break down, they will fall sick and break down. So, I decided to fight it,” he says.
The Khalnayak actor adds that it was his sister Priya Dutt who was the first one to reach him after his diagnosis.
Meanwhile, on the work front, Dutt has several exciting projects at various stages of development. He will next be seen in The Good Maharaja, which stars him in the titular role of Digvijaysinhji Ranjitsinhji Jadeja, the Maharaja Jam Sahib of Nawanagar, now Jamnagar, Gujarat, India. He also headlines Binoy Gandhi’s romantic comedy film Ghudchadi.
Keep visiting this space over and again for more updates and reveals from the world of entertainment.
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire
Rahul Bhatt sparks controversy over 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.