The ace director and filmmaker, Mahesh Bhatt, has given us unforgettable films like “Sadak,” “Arth,” “Jism,” and many more, all of which were super-duper hits at the box office. However, despite launching numerous talents, he never launched his own son, Rahul Bhatt. In a candid interview with Times Of India, Rahul opened up about his relationship with his father.
The fitness trainer revealed a striking revelation about his name, stating that his father, Mahesh Bhatt, wanted to name him Mohammed. This revelation sheds light on why he refers to himself as the ‘super-bast*rd’ child. He shared, “That’s because my father Mahesh Bhatt never treated me like his own child. You know how it is. You’ve known me from the time I was a child fighting for my sister against Ranvir Shorey, to Bigg Boss, to the book… Main kabhi bhi jhooth nahin bolta. It’s the raw, uncut truth about my relationship with my father. I’ve put it all in the book. I’ve exorcized my demons.”
“My father said he was a bast*rd. Ultimately we are selling something to grab eyeballs. So I called myself super -‘bast*rd,” says Rahul.
Rahul further disclosed that it was his Anglo-Indian mother who saved him from being named Mohammed. She stood firm against Mahesh Bhatt’s insistence, especially due to objections from their Maharashtrian neighbours, arguing that he should reserve his notions of secularism for another occasion. She also pointed out that if Mr. Bhatt considers himself a good Muslim, he should treat all his children equally.
When asked why Mahesh Bhatt doesn’t cast him in a movie, Rahul’s response was filled with frustration, saying, “Only he can answer that. Just as there are many questions only Mr. Headley can answer. Because he signs me, doesn’t mean others will. They say, ‘Jab baap ko bharosa nahin bete pe to hum kyon karen?’.”
Mahesh Bhatt is blessed with four children – two with his former wife Kiran (Pooja Bhatt & Rahul Bhatt) and two with Soni Razdan (Alia Bhatt & Shaheen Bhatt). As Rahul bravely opens up about his complex relationship with his father, his honesty adds depth to the understanding of family dynamics in the world of Bollywood. The unfiltered revelations in his book offer an insight into the struggles and complexities faced by children of famous personalities in the industry.