Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt’s turbulent personal life made headlines in the 1970s and ’80s, including his extramarital affair with late actor Parveen Babi and later, his second marriage to actor Soni Razdan. Now, his eldest daughter from his first marriage to Kiran Bhatt, actor-producer Pooja Bhatt, has opened up on how Soni felt guilty about her relationship with Mahesh.

Recalling an old conversation with Soni in Coonoor, Pooja said on Vickey Lalwani’s podcast, “Soni had a heart-to-heart conversation with me… She said, ‘Pooja, I too feel so guilty, felt very guilty’. I told her with all of my heart, ‘Soni, you could not have broken up a relationship that was together. There is no space for anybody in a relationship that is solid unless there are crevices there or something was lacking, so somebody else could come and find that space’.”

Pooja revealed that she knew about Mahesh and Soni before her mother did. “He woke me up and said, ‘I have to let you know that I have met this lady and I am going to be moving out. It doesn’t mean that I love you any less, and I will always be there.’ I said agar woh mujhe nahin kahega to kisko kahega?” she said.

While Pooja said she did see her mother’s pain, she added that her parents “always maintained decorum and grace with each other”.

Mahesh and Kiran are parents to two children, Pooja and fitness trainer-actor Rahul Bhatt. Mahesh met Soni during the making of Saaransh (1984). They got married on April 20, 1986, and have two daughters, actor Alia Bhatt and author Shaheen Bhatt.

I have so many memories with Rasik [Dave] because we’ve been friends for over 35 years. He was the first person to join me in my first Gujarati play. Whenever either of us found a good play, we would come together to be a part of it. Whenever he did a play, we would easily record more than 100 shows. In fact, I have done a play with the entire family called Takdir No Takajo. They are a loveable family and have been [affiliated] with theatre since long. 

Ketki [Rasik’s wife] is currently doing a play with us called 'Khel Khele Khelaiya'.

[When I spoke to him] last week, he told me, “Even if something happened to me, do not cancel any shows”. He always inspired people and [believed] that the show must go on. To [commemorate his life] Ketki is performing tomorrow at Ghatkopar and on another stage, the day after.

I remember doing this play with him where we were both acting as thieves. Somehow people mistook us to be real thieves, chased us and started hitting us. When I complained, he said that even if we are getting hit, it is a lot of fun [to make it seem real]. We bonded over plays. I had a professional and personal relationship with Rasik.

He was strict on stage and jolly when the curtain fell. He would throw a party and invite everyone after the shows were over. Rasik loved eating rasgullas and gulab jamuns. He knew how to enjoy life. He was the one and only handsome guy from the Gujarati industry. He had a lovely soul.

Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah recently got a new Nattu Kaka. Theatre veteran Kiran Bhatt stepped into the shoes of the character, which was earlier essayed by late Ghanashyam Nayak. Bhatt, who is enjoying being on screen, shares, “To play this iconic character of Nattu Kaka is a very good feeling. I was called for the audition by Asit Modi ji and the makers liked my way of portraying the role. I had met Ghanashyam ji several times in the past. I used to tell him how good the show was, not realising that one day I would be a part of Taarak Mehta... The first day of the shoot was a very emotional moment for me.”

Ask him if he is following the body language of the original Nattu Kaka or is he trying to bring his own style to the role, and Bhatt says, “I am trying to copy his mannerisms in my own way. People used to like him a lot and so I am sticking to how he used to portray the character.”

Not many know that Bhatt had acted in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi many years ago. “I played Ketki Dave’s brother then. A lot has changed now. Things are way too professional and even technically, we are very sound. I haven’t done too many Hindi shows as I have been busy with Gujarati theatre, where I produce, direct, write and even act in the plays,” he says.

TV show Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah has got a new Nattu Kaka in theatre veteran Kiran Bhatt. Earlier, the character was essayed by another veteran actor Ghanshyam Nayak, who died of cancer on October 3, 2021.

Interestingly, in real life, Bhatt and Nayak had a long friendship, dating back to their initial years in the theatre industry. Commenting on the same, Bhatt said, “It’s almost like the old Nattu Kaka is bringing in the new Nattu Kaka, and I am glad to be doing the role of my dear friend Ghanshyam. It is a very emotional role for me, and I hope to do justice to the role Ghanshyam excelled in ever since the beginning.”

Asit Kumarr Modi, the producer of the show, while welcoming the new Nattu Kaka into the family, said, “The love that we have been showered with ever since we began in 2008 is immense. And we hope that the audience embraces Nattu Kaka as he is all set to return to Jethalal’s newly inaugurated store.”