Bollywood actress Sonakshi Sinha, who is known for her memorable performances in such successful films as Dabangg (2010), Rowdy Rathore (2012) and Lootera (2013) among others, deactivated her Twitter account on Saturday in order to stay away from negativity.
"The first step to protecting your sanity is to stay away from negativity. And nowhere more of that than Twitter these days. Chalo, I’m off-- deactivating my account. Bye guys, peace out. Aag lage basti mein... mein apni masti mein! Bye Twitter," Sinha wrote on Instagram on Saturday evening.
The 33-year-old actress, who has often been subjected to trolling on social media, was one of the most followed celebrities on Twitter. At the time of deleting her account, she had 15.9 million followers on the micro-blogging site.
Netizens are speculating that the actress might have decided to bid adieu to Twitter after facing backlash for a post expressing her grief and condolence over the death of young actor Sushant Singh Rajput.
Sinha is the daughter of veteran actor Shatrughan Sinha. After the tragic death of Sushant Singh Rajput, who became a force to reckon with in Bollywood without any godfather, the topic of nepotism has cropped up again. Sonakshi, just like several other star kids, has been trolled heavily on social media as the hot topic makes a comeback in the wake of Singh’s death on 14th June.
On the work front, Sonakshi Sinha will next be seen in T-Series Films’ Bhuj: The Pride of India. Also starring Ajay Devgn and Sanjay Dutt in lead roles, the much-awaited film is set against the backdrop of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. It is about the life of IAF Squadron Leader Vijay Karnik, the then in-charge of the Bhuj airport, who and his team reconstructed the IAF airbase with the help of 300 local women.
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.