Vishal Punjabi is the founder and director of The Wedding Filmer, an organisation that shoots weddings. He has shot weddings of celebrities like Anushka Sharma-Virat Kohli and Bipasha Basu-Karan Singh Grover. Recently, we met Vishal and spoke to him about shooting Virushka’s wedding.
Anushka and Virat had a secret wedding in Italy and till the pictures of them came out everyone was just speculating about the wedding. When asked Vishal how difficult it was for him to keep a secret that Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli are getting married, he said, “That’s the hardest part in the celebrity weddings, learning how to keep your mouth shut. It’s very exciting, but in Anushka and Virat’s case, we didn’t know it was them until we got to Italy. There’s a lot of thinking on the feature when you do a wedding like these because then there’s not a lot of planning that you can do.”
When probed that he actually went for a wedding where he didn’t know who the bride and groom are, Vishal said, “It goes against everything we do, but luckily the planners who were doing it, The Shaadi Squad, they are good friends of mine and they know what they are doing. So, I trusted them and landed up there, and I was grateful.”
When pictures of a celebrity’s wedding come out on social media, people say that they are faking it for the camera. When asked Vishal if those moments are real or some people fake it for the camera, he said, “Celebrity or not, if you are getting married and you are in love, whoever you are it is very hard to fake that emotion because love is quite in your face when you are getting married. It’s the reason you there. It’s not very easy to fake it, I don’t think anybody can.”
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.