There is no dearth of actors in Bollywood who can go to any length to play their parts to perfection. We keep hearing about actors undergoing extreme body transformation for certain roles every now and then. Some even learn a local lingo to add authenticity to their characters, while others prefer to perform high-octane action sequences on their own.
The list of such actors now has a new addition. We are talking about immensely talented actress Hina Khan who can be currently seen in Hungama Play’s latest webseries Damaged 2. Also starring Adhyayan Suman in the central character, the webseries premiered on 14th January and received good response from viewers.
Her character in Damaged 2 required Hina Khan to smoke in a number of scenes. But since the actress is a non-smoker, it was indeed a challenging task for her. But to ensure that her character looks convincing and complete, Hina took on the challenge and turned to smoking to film those scenes.
“For somebody who runs away when someone smokes in the room – I am that kind of a person – I tell people not to smoke in the same room. I tell them to please go out and smoke. But I have, for this character, smoked for the first time ever and it was very difficult for a person like me. But Adhyayan and my director Ekant have really helped me and gave me an open choice that if I want to, I can choose to not smoke and manage to shoot it without that. But I was like if it is written, it must be written for some purpose. If it makes the character look more beautiful and more complete, I decided to do it. It was difficult but I managed to do it,” said Hina Khan while talking to a publication.
The actress will next be seen in her debut film Hacked which is slated to release on 7th February, 2020.
A scene from The Thursday Murder Club, where four retirees turn amateur detectives in a quiet British village shaken by a real murderInstagram/NetflixUK
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.