Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 27, 2014)

Not so long ago, Rahul Bhatt had gone on record to say: “Mahesh Bhatt never treated me like his own child. It's the raw uncut truth about my relationship with my father. I was vulnerable. I had no father to guide me in my growing years.”


But the two seem to have put the frayed relationship behind and made a new beginning as Mahesh Bhatt is ready to launch his son in a co-production with daughter Pooja. The director has not yet been finalised but sources close to Rahul reveal that Pooja herself might wield the megaphone.

The film, titled Bad, will go on floors next year and Mahesh Bhatt says, “I am not in the business of launching my kith and kin in movies. But suddenly, everything fell into place and I found a script which fits Rahul like a glove.”

Insisting that “everything is fine between me and dad now”, Rahul says, “The past is history and the future is a mystery, the present is all that matters. Whatever I had to say, I wrote rather articulately in my book Headley & I. Now let’s let bygones be bygones.”

Mirror has it that Rahul’s character will have grey shades. The 32-year-old actor is unperturbed about debuting with a dark role and says, “I play a rather twisted character, those traits are in me too and hence I guess I won’t have to try too hard.”

Other than being bad, how is Rahul preparing for the debut? The fitness trainer already has a buff body and says that he has no plans to lose the muscle. “I have a big built, that’s how real men are. I plan to continue being a gym instructor as that is my passion and I do it for a price,” he asserts.

 Rahul earlier made headlines for his alleged association with 26/11 Attacks accused David Headley and in 2002 he was arrested for allegedly assaulting Pooja’s then partner Ranvir Shorey. Then, came the tell-all book. A Bollywood career would require him to remain controversy free. How does he plan to do that?

“Was it wrong to stand up for my sister when someone beat her up? Have I got drunk and banged my car into a bakery? Have I gone hunting? Look, I am not insinuating anything. I just air my opinions and I shall never lead my life to please other people,” he rages.

Parting shot. What does he think of stepsister Alia Bhatt’s acting career? Pat comes the reply, “Exceptional! She has come up with an awesome performance in Highway. She is the Meryl Streep of India.”