Ever since the tragic news about Sridevi’s demise started making rounds, many have expressed their condolences on social media. Many have also been sharing their fond memories of their time with Sridevi.
During one of her interviews with a leading Indian daily, Sridevi was asked if she had the chance to do anything differently in her career. To this she said, "Not at all! I wouldn’t want to change anything about my career. I hadn’t planned all this, it all fell into my lap and I am grateful to God for it. I just want it to remain like this. My mom and I never thought that I would make my way into Bollywood. I was happy doing films down south. When my first Hindi film Solva Savan (remake of a Tamil film) was being made, I thought that yeh picture toh south main hit ho gaya, hence, they are making it in a different language. That’s all. Then, I came to know the film didn’t do well and I went back to doing my other southern language films. It was as simple as that. Before Himmatwala happened, the producers had taken dates for a different film in Telugu, and all of a sudden they turned around and said that they weren’t doing that film anymore, instead, they were doing a Hindi film with Jeetendra. My first reaction was that if my Hindi debut was a flop, why do they want me to do another film? They didn’t bother to hear me out, they went ahead with it and I kept thinking that these people are mad to be doing this (laughs). I am glad that I did it and then one film lead to the other."
Sridevi is considered as the first female superstar. Speaking about the same, she had said, "All these labels and praises scare me, I am very simple and I feel like a newcomer because I never stopped learning. I feel there is so much more to learn about the craft, in fact, it is just the beginning. The times have changed. In the earlier days, on the set, we would ask the director… Sir, dialogues de do. Meanwhile, the writer would be sitting somewhere on the same set and writing the dialogues. The team would tell us, “Garam garam aa raha hai scene.” Now, we can’t function like that. We have the bound script in our hand, and we are well aware of the mood of the scene, the look of the character, the clothes and everything else. But I guess, back then that was the style, people still did a great job and it worked in that era. Today, films are made differently and so many heroine-oriented films are being made. The filmmakers are willing to take chances and explore these subjects. It is the best time to be in this industry and there is so much more I want to learn as an actress. I never went through the phase in my career where I said… This is enough; I don’t want to do this anymore. Acting has always been my passion."
Stills from Andaz Apna Apna
Stills from Andaz Apna Apna
Vinay Kumar Sinha
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.