Bollywood actress Sonam Kapoor and her husband Anand Ahuja hosted a lavish welcome party at their Mumbai home for football icon David Beckham.
The Wednesday night bash was attended by well-known faces in the entertainment industry including Anil Kapoor, Sanjay Kapoor, Shahid Kapoor, Mira Rajput, Shibani Dandekar, Farhan Akhtar, Karisma Kapoor, Arjun Kapoor, Malaika Arora among others.
Several pictures from the party surfaced on social media.
In one of the pictures, Sonam Kapoor can be seen seated on the couch, while the background shows off the wonderful decor and the other guests.
The actress looked stunning in a bright-coloured sari and a white kaftan blouse. Her hair was wrapped back in a rose-adorned bun. She sported spectacular necklace and earrings.
Anand Ahuja shared a picture of himself with Sonam and David Beckham.
Arjun Kapoor was also seen arriving for the party with girlfriend Malaika Arora. While he sported a black-coloured outfit, Malaika wore an oversized white shirt and black skirt.
He took to his Instagram handle to share a picture with Malaika and Beckham.
He wrote in the caption, "To meet someone u have admired from afar for so many years to be able to talk face to face with him about his new life in Miami, football, India, travel, his kids, philanthropy & everything else I could squeeze into a 15-minute dinner table chat... grateful to meet @davidbeckham in awe of his genuine sincerity towards spending time with all of us & being kind enough to allow every fan in that room to feel elated to get a picture & time with him...
Thank u @sonamkapoor & @anandahuja for fulfilling a childhood dream of mine!!!
Karisma Kapoor was spotted wearing traditional attire.
Shahid Kapoor, Sonam's Mausam co-star, attended the celebration with his wife Mira Rajput. Ritesh Sidhwani and wife Dolly, Isha Ambani and sister-in-law Shloka Ambani, and Farhan Akhtar and wife Shibani Akhtar were also seen arriving at the reception.
In another picture, Sonam is seen posing with her uncle Sanjay Kapoor, aunt Maheep Kapoor, cousin Mohit Marwah, and Antara Marwah.
Antara shared a picture with David Beckham from the bash, and he was seen in a black t-shirt with matching pants.
Legendary English footballer David Beckham is currently in the country as a goodwill ambassador of the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF). He also watched the semi-final of the ODI World Cup between India and New Zealand.
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.