Most celebrity careers are defined by the choices they make.
The right moves have so much power that even not-so-talented individuals can achieve incredible success, but on the flip side, bad choices can kill promising careers of gifted individuals. Those wrong turns can be the result of poor judgement, bad advice or not knowing their own worth.
One celebrity who seemingly falls into the latter category is Shehnaaz Gill. After a slow start to her career, she came to global prominence with an eye-catching appearance in popular reality TV show Bigg Boss 13.
Millions quickly realised she had great potential and the kind of natural relatability that doesn’t come often. This subsequently led to her fan base skyrocketing. It seemed as if everyone knew about Gill’s immense potential except her, which meant others quickly cashed in on that popularity and prevented her from properly kick-starting a special journey.
First, TV channel Colors persuaded her to participate in the utterly ridiculous reality TV show Mujhse Shaadi Karoge. Then singers made use of that newfound fame by getting Shehnaaz to star in music videos, as did others like photographer Dabboo Ratnani, who started getting noticed again after taking photos of her.
The only smart move she made was playing a key role opposite superstar singer-turned actor Diljit Dosanjh in hit Punjabi film Honsla Rakh.
But instead of going after more substantial lead roles worthy of her talent, she has made moves that prevent her from realising that immense potential.
Instead of making full use of her looks, acting ability, singing talent and fan base, she has made choices not worthy of her. Literally everyone could see how much of a dud project Kisi Ka Bhai Kisiki Jaan was right from the beginning, so her agreeing to play a small supporting role in it made zero sense. Bollywood is such a place that if you begin with meaningless supporting roles in a box office disaster, it prevents you from getting those bigger projects.
An even worse decision was Shehnaaz agreeing to act in the Sajid Khan directed film 100 per cent. Apart from him being a bad director, the disgraced film personality is carrying a lot of negative baggage, largely due to the multiple allegations of serious sexual abuse. Although Khan has denied the allegations, a lot of people believe they are true. All this means that his film will be a guaranteed flop and will tarnish her image. The focus in the lead-up to this film releasing won’t be the cast or storyline, but all the nasty things Khan is accused of, and it does her no favours at all to be part of that.
It was also recently announced that she would be joining the cast of The Crew, but again it will be a smaller supporting role, with more attention going to her established co-stars Kareena Kapoor Khan, Kriti Sanon and Tabu. Diehard fans will argue that landing any type of movie is a win, but history has taught us that how you begin a Bollywood career largely defines what happens next. Fans will also point out that she is making money from a thriving YouTube channel as a talk show host, but those who are benefitting most from it are
the guests.
Someone like Priyanka Chopra Jonas wouldn’t have even thought about doing something like that because she was laser focused on reaching great heights as a frontline star. Shehnaaz Gill has the capability to do that because she is a rare all-round talent but doesn’t seem to know her worth or is getting terrible advice.
She is better than a supporting actress, talk show host, social media personality or someone who appears in music videos. With the right guidance, a good manager, and correct choices, Shehnaaz can reach incredible heights. Although she has made that difficult now with these wrong moves, it is not too late. The first step should be disassociating herself from Sajid Khan and his guaranteed flop film. Secondly, she needs management and supporters who can see her immense potential. If not, she will have a short-lived career and become someone who missed that rocket ship to the moon.
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.