Bollywood scion Rahul Bhatt, son of acclaimed filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt and his first wife Kiran Bhatt (formerly Lorraine Bright), has recently spoken out about the intricate dynamics within his illustrious family. In a revealing conversation with popular interviewer Siddharth Kannan, Bhatt candidly addressed his ‘fractured’ bond with his father and the ‘formal’ nature of his relationship with his half-sister, Alia Bhatt, while also highlighting Mahesh Bhatt’s enduring commitment to his first family.
Rahul Bhatt on His Bond with Mahesh Bhatt and Alia Bhatt
Rahul Bhatt did not hold back when discussing the emotional distance he experienced with his father, Mahesh Bhatt, during his formative years. He expressed feeling neglected due to his father’s professional commitments and the eventual separation of his parents in the late 1970s. Mahesh Bhatt later married Soni Razdan on April 20, 1986, after converting to Islam, as he legally and emotionally refused to divorce his first wife, Kiran Bhatt.
“I had to be my own father. My father was there, but he was not there. He has been a little indifferent to me for reasons he knows best. I love my father, I respect him, but I am not my father. It’s a fractured relationship,” Rahul stated in the interview. This paternal absence, he revealed, instilled in him a sense of responsibility from a young age, leading him to perceive himself as the “head of the household.”
When it comes to his relationship with his half-sisters, Alia Bhatt and Shaheen Bhatt (daughters of Mahesh Bhatt and Soni Razdan), Rahul described it as “warm” but predominantly a “formality.” He elaborated, “They call me, but it is all a formality.”
Mahesh Bhatt himself had previously acknowledged the complexities of their bond. In a 2018 interaction, he admitted, “There was a wound there… I left home when he was around three, and he felt I had abandoned the family for another woman. And this was a grievance I couldn’t deny him because it was true.”
Mahesh Bhatt’s Unwavering Support for His First Wife
Despite the emotional chasm Rahul described, he underscored a significant aspect of his father’s character: Mahesh Bhatt’s continued financial support for his first wife, Kiran Bhatt. Kiran Bhatt, originally known as Lorraine Bright, married Mahesh Bhatt in 1970, and they share two children, Pooja Bhatt and Rahul Bhatt.
Rahul explicitly confirmed that even after separating from his first wife and marrying Soni Razdan in 1986, Mahesh Bhatt has consistently provided for Kiran Bhatt and their household.
“He is a great guy. I respect him. He takes care of my mother. I respect that also. Whenever there is a financial crisis, he is there. I can lead a luxurious life in that sense. I am not the breadwinner. My father pays for household expenses,” Rahul affirmed during the interview. This sentiment has been echoed by his sister, Pooja Bhatt, who revealed in a separate podcast that their father still looks after their mother to this day.
Watch Rahul Bhatt’s Full Interview:
Mahesh Bhatt’s dedication to his first wife traces back to their youth. He met Lorraine Bright when he was 16 and she was 14, residing in an orphanage. He took responsibility for her after she was expelled from school due to their relationship, showcasing a long-standing commitment that has persisted through the decades.
Rahul Bhatt’s recent revelations offer a poignant glimpse into the lesser-seen facets of the Bhatt family’s dynamics. While acknowledging a ‘fractured’ personal relationship with his father and a ‘formal’ one with his step-sister, he concurrently brought to light Mahesh Bhatt’s quiet but steadfast commitment to financially supporting his first wife, Kiran Bhatt, an aspect that paints a more nuanced picture of the celebrated filmmaker’s personal life.