Sanjeev Bhaskar, who starred in Goodness Gracious Me with his wife Meera Syal, has enjoyed a varied career as a stage and screen actor, writer and producer.
He was awarded an OBE in the 2006 Queen’s New Year’s Honours List for his services to drama.
Bhaskar began writing monologues and sketches as a hobby while working as a marketing manager, before he started performing routines in comedy clubs.
With this year being the 70th anniversary of India’s independence, how significant has the Indian and Pakistani contribution to the arts in Britain been?
It has contributed hugely to the British identity. The most obvious contribution has been in food but there are many people from the subcontinent who have been involved behind the scenes in music, in particular. I don’t think Goodness Gracious Me could have come out of any Asian expat community other than in the UK.
Are we going to see Goodness Gracious Me return any time soon?
I’m not sure about soon but hopefully we will all get together again to do something.
Do you have any projects planned with Meera (Syal) in the near future?
Not in the near future, though we are always looking out for ideas.
You recently made the transition from comedy to drama. What was the biggest challenge with that?
The biggest challenge was other people’s perceptions of what I could do. I don’t approach drama and comedy any differently. One starts with a character and then either funny things or serious things happen to him or her. Comedy is strangely more technical.
Do you think diversity drives by broadcasters to make TV more reflective of society are a good idea?
Not only do I think that it is a good idea, it is the right idea. Diversity in terms of race, gender, age, social background, regions within the UK, etc all reflect the society we live in and all (groups) have a right to be represented.
What is your favourite show on television at the moment?
I’m always slightly behind everyone else, so at the moment I’m enjoying Line of Duty.
What are you reading?
I’ve just listened to the audiobook for Life of Pi, which was great to reacquaint myself with. Also I’m reading How to Stop Time by Matt Haig.
What do you look for in a script?
To be good enough for me to forget I might be in it and to get absorbed like I would in a
book. And then it must have the appearance of a short, middle aged Asian man.
What are you working on next?
I’ve got to complete filming on Paddington 2, in which I have a small role.
There has been a lot of anti-immigrant rhetoric over the past few years. What effect, if any, has this had on you and your family?
To be honest, I grew up with anti-immigrant rhetoric. It’s depressing to realise that it never really went away but I think it’s better to know what the state of play is and deal with that, rather than what might be hidden.
We dealt with it before and we can deal with it again. What got us through it in the past was unity. We have to keep that in mind and not allow other forces to divide us.
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.