Mahesh Bhatt's Son Rahul Opens Up On Growing Up In Film Family: 'It F**ks You Up Badly Or Makes You...'

Rahul Bhatt opens up on his troubled childhood, growing up without emotional support, and why he chose to stay away from Bollywood. A rare and raw interview you shouldn't miss.

Rahul Bhatt, son of filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt and his first wife Kiran Bhatt, has candidly opened up about the emotional toll his parents’ separation had on him, and the deep scars it left behind.

Source : Instagram

Rahul Bhatt, son of filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt and his first wife Kiran Bhatt, has candidly opened up about the emotional toll his parents’ separation had on him, and the deep scars it left behind. In a heartfelt interview with Hindi Rush, Rahul revealed how growing up in a broken home within the film industry left him isolated and emotionally burdened.

Rahul Bhatt on a broken childhood

“The scars are still very much there, although they have gotten lighter over the years. There was a lot of anger within me growing up, particularly because people kept making fun of me and my mother. Other kids used to ridicule me by saying that my father left my mother. Children can be very brutal,” said an emotional Rahul.

He described himself as a loner, both then and now, adding that although the anger has diminished, it has never fully disappeared. Rahul said the lack of proper parental support and emotional guidance in his formative years made things worse. He credited fitness with helping him stay on track and not spiral into destructive habits.

Rahul also took a strong stance against the film industry, calling insiders hypocritical. “I don’t like film people; they are hypocritical. One of the reasons why I never pursued a career in cinema was that I could never compromise on my morals. I am my own man; I have integrity,” he stated.

“You keep seeing things that infuriate you and give you déjà vu. I had the opportunity to have food with the king’s son, but I chose to sit with the tailor’s son instead,” he added, expressing his disdain for superficial social dynamics.

Rahul on his relationship with his father Mahesh Bhatt

Though Mahesh Bhatt remained financially available post-separation, Rahul said they never developed a strong emotional bond. “Even while growing up, we did not have that kind of a connection, and I had to deal with a lot of things by myself. I had to be my own doctor, lawyer, and therapist. Nobody came to my aid,” he shared.

Rahul also reflected on the toxicity of fame and the burden of being born into a film family, stating:“I wouldn’t wish this on anyone. It either f**ks you up very badly or it makes you too strong. There is no in-between. Otherwise, you have to be completely ostracised and disconnected from life. If not, you end up being a part of all this, including the drugs and whatnot. It’s a fake business.”

Mahesh Bhatt is the father of Rahul and actress Pooja Bhatt with Kiran Bhatt. He later married actress Soni Razdan, with whom he has two daughters — Alia Bhatt and Shaheen Bhatt.