Rahul Bhatt says Alia Bhatt is ‘paani kam chai’ compared to Pooja Bhatt's stardom: 'Pooja took my father’s legacy forward'

Alia Bhatt is one of the most celebrated actresses in Bollywood. In a recent conversation, Alia’s step‑brother Rahul Bhatt shared that Pooja Bhatt is more talented than Alia, and expressed his admiration for the Jigra actress for taking good care of her sister Shaheen Bhatt.
In a recent conversation with Hindi Rush, Rahul said, “In my opinion, she is not even half of what my real sister Pooja is – not in talent, not in looks, not in terms of being sexy. In front of my sister, she is ‘paani kam chai’ (not as good). Amongst the siblings, the most talented and the most moralistic is Pooja.”
Rahul admitted that Alia is talented and that the universe is with her. He also praised the way she understands PR strategy. Alia’s comprehensive skill set and media savvy left a strong impression on Rahul.

Pooja, Mahesh Bhatt’s daughter from his first marriage to Kiran, was a defining screen presence in the 1990s, earning acclaim for her roles in films such as Sadak and Zakhm. Reflecting on his father’s cinematic legacy, Rahul credited Pooja with carrying it forward. “Pooja took my father’s legacy ahead. I saw her in her stardom. She was the biggest sex symbol of the country then,” he remarked.

Rahul noted that his bond with Alia does not extend to casual drop‑in visits. “I am on good terms with her. I don’t take things for granted. She is a mother now. She is very successful, and one can’t just pick up the phone and say, ‘I am coming to meet you.’ I never shared that kind of relationship with anyone. I like to maintain a certain protocol. I am happy for her. She got the right husband,” Rahul added. He called Alia a good mother and appreciated the way she is taking care of Shaheen.