RISING music star Jagtar announced himself in the past few years with top tracks like Jaanke, Ho Jaana, Pat Le Geh and Das De Tu.
The singer, songwriter and composer has released top tracks, along with big collaborations like the stunning EP Three Chapters. He also regularly uploads cool covers of classic songs on his social media. With more music and big live performances on the way, he is a young British talent to watch.
Eastern Eye got Jagtar to select 10 songs that he loves.
Mukhda Dekh Ke by Surjit Bindrakhia: This is the song I always play to lift my mood. It reminds of me of my childhood when I would go to my village in Punjab. There was always music playing, and most of the time it was songs by the great Surjit Bindrakhia.
Dil Luteya by Jazzy B:I idolised Jazzy B growing up and this was one of the first songs I knew word for word. The timeless track is great and always on repeat in the car.
Dance With You by Rishi Rich Project:This is a song, which was iconic for making Punjabi music ‘cool’ and helping it cross new frontiers. The fusion of sounds and styles just blew my mind.
Attention by Charlie Puth:Superb singer-songwriter Charlie Puth is such a talented artist. This song inspired me to take a new direction with my music. It helped me compose and write my own lyrics for my upcoming songs, which I can’t wait to share with you all.
Rock My World by Michael Jackson: MJ is MJ – no one can replicate what he did as an artist. Whenever this all-time classic song plays it just makes me want to get up and dance along.
Show Me by Chris Brown: Talented singer Chris Brown is one of my favourite artists due
to the fact he can do everything. One of the greatest performers on stage. This song made me follow his work more closely.
Tum Hi Ho by Arijit Singh: This beautiful song from the film Aashiqui 2 opened my eyes to the music coming from Bollywood. I had always listened to Hindi classics, but not really the current music at the time. But Arijit Singh brought a whole new wave of soul to the industry and reconnected me to Hindi film music.
Star Boy by The Weeknd: He might be massively popular, but I don’t listen to a lot of The
Weeknd. However this song gets me going and hyped. It’s a great track for the gym.
Faith by George Michael: Late great singer George Michael was my mum’s favourite artist. He left behind a strong body of work and I love this song in particular because it is all about having faith.
Gemini by Jagtar & Rishi Rich: This EP means a lot to me as it represents me as an artist perfectly. A lot of risks were taken to complete this. I’m proud of the team for following through, keeping the faith and not giving up.
Instagram: @jagtarmusic
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.