Salil Ankola will once again be playing in the MTV BCL this year. The actor says that he started his association some years back and enjoys every minute of it. “I was approached by Mr Ashwani Sharma to play for Delhi Dragons in the first season and we have won the trophy twice already. Ashwani is a very dear friend and I am playing in BCL as he is involved. Plus, it's the best team and I enjoy every bit of the game with all the players,” he says.
“BCL is fun cricket, where there is a lot of drama along with playing cricket. I am the team guide and will be very involved with the strategies of my team," he adds.
The actor says that he has been following a relaxed schedule and can easily take out time for the game. “At the moment, I am very relaxed with my shooting schedule. After the time lap of Shani, I have the time to spare to play BCL,” she says.
Salil, who has played cricket professionally as well, says that he has always been passionate about the game. “I have played cricket for India and have been passionate about the sport since my pre-teen years. It was all that mattered to me in my growing up years. I was obsessed with performing and gave it my 200%,” he says.
The actor says that playing cricket as part of BCL has its own challenges. “It's fun cricket but it is a challenge to bowl with the smiley ball, as it's difficult to control the direction and length of the ball. Even batting on this ball is difficult. Moreover, the ground is small, so lots of runs are scored,” he says.
Talking about how much he practices, Salil says, “I am a fitness freak and regular in my workout regimen and I have been in touch with the game, so I am not putting in anything extra. But I am definitely working on my bowling as it's very difficult to bowl with this ball.”
Ask him who his favourite cricketer is, and he says, “At the moment, my favourite is Virat Kohli as I find him to be a complete batsman in all forms of the game. He seems the only one who could match up to Sachin. I have played cricket with Sachin and Virat always reminds me of him when he bats.”
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire
Rahul Bhatt sparks controversy over 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.