The annual London Book Fair, which ran from Tuesday (14) to Friday (17) at the Olympia Exhibition Centre, opened a Spotlight on India series as part of the UK-India Year of Culture celebrations in the two countries.
The spotlight marked the first event as part of India@UK2017, the official set of events being coordinated by the Indian High Commission in London and the Ministry of Culture along with a series of cultural organisations in India and the UK.
"The London Book Fair (LBF) worked with the Indian government's export trade body Capexil to stage an exhibiting presence over three pavilions for nearly 40 exhibitors.
"The enhanced Indian exhibit at this year’s fair showcased the global importance of India’s publishing industry, in particular its digital innovation," an LBF statement said.
The events as part of the India spotlight included an "In Conversation" with Indian author Amit Chaudhuri, a symposium on Indian writing today with a delegation of authors from the Sahitya Akademi, a discussion titled “Indian Worlds: From Book to Screen” with UK-based author Shrabani Basu and a session on “How to access the Indian book market”.
There was a seminar titled “Opportunities & Challenges”, hosted by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).
"The Indian publishing market has an overwhelming potential for growth. Were currently investing time and resources into helping Indian-based publishers distribute their print and digital books throughout our global network of sales channels," said David Taylor, senior vice-president of content acquisition at Ingram Content Group, one of the participants of the Spotlight on India.
"International distribution can be a headache for publishers in India as availability and warehouse costs weigh heavily on their businesses. Ingrams virtual wholesale model enables publishers to recognise the sales potential of their titles through print-on-demand availability and an efficient, reliable digital supply chain," he explained.
The fair is held every year in March as a global marketplace for rights negotiation and the sale and distribution of content across print, audio, TV, film and digital channels.
The UK-India Year of Culture follows a joint announcement in 2015 by India prime minister Narendra Modi and then British prime minister David Cameron of a bilateral initiative to mark India-UK cultural ties and the 70th anniversary of India’s Independence.
Queen Elizabeth hosted a special reception at Buckingham Palace last month to mark the official launch of the year-long celebrations, which will cover a vast programme of cultural exchange and activity taking place in cities across both countries.
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.