More than three decades ago, director Mahesh Bhatt and his actress daughter Pooja Bhatt were at the eye of the storm when they featured on the cover of a magazine with them exchanging a kiss. The photo went on to become one of the most talked-about incidents in Bollywood and is still subject to controversy decades later.
Rahul Bhatt: “It Doesn’t Matter”
Last year, Mahesh Bhatt’s son Rahul Bhatt spoke about the long-standing controversy in an interview with Hindi Rush. Looking back at the incident, Rahul, who was 14 when the photo was published, seemed utterly unperturbed. “Kuch farq nahi padta. It’s like water off a duck’s back. Hum jaante hain sach kya hai,” he said, highlighting that the family never allowed public opinion to get to them.
He said that having grown up in a film family makes one either “messed up or very strong.” For the Bhatts, strength appears to have been the result. “Log sochte hain humein chinta hoti hai, lekin aisa nahi hai,” he continued, emphasizing their emotional strength in the face of criticism.
Also Read: Disgusting and Disrespectful: Rahul Bhatt’s Comments on Alia Bhatt and Pooja Bhatt Backfire
Pooja Bhatt’s Take: “An Innocent Moment”
Pooja Bhatt herself has also expressed her views on the controversy earlier. She called the photo “absolutely innocent” in an interview with Siddharth Kannan and attributed the outrage to societal prejudice. “Agar log baap-beti ke rishte ko hi galat nazar se dekh sakte hain… bahut badi joke hai,” she said, calling out the hypocrisy in the manner in which people perceive family values.
A Legacy Beyond the Controversy
In spite of the public glare, Mahesh and Pooja Bhatt gave a string of award-winning films together, such as Daddy, Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahin, Sadak, Sir, and Zakhm. Although the magazine cover might continue to be a point of discussion, it is nothing compared to the strong legacy they’ve built through their work.
Such a weird thing to say; Rahul Bhatt comparing Alia and Pooja Bhatt
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