Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt Opens Up About His Mixed Heritage After Pahalgam Attack

Mumbai : There is widespread outrage across the country following the recent incident in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, where terrorists brutally killed 26 innocent people after asking their religion. Many members of the film industry have condemned the horrific attack. Veteran filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt has now spoken on Hindu-Muslim violence, sharing a personal example from his childhood.

What My Mother Taught Me
Speaking on the issue, Bollywood director Mahesh Bhatt said, "My mother was a Shia Muslim and my father was a Nagar Brahmin. When I was a child, my mother would bathe me and send me to school, saying, 'Son, you are a son of a Nagar Brahmin. Your gotra is Bhargava and your branch is Ashwin. So whenever you feel afraid, just say 'Ya Ali Madad'. At that time, I was culturally rich in India. I never imagined there would come a time when this culture — which is part of my very being, my truth — would be seen as a wound."

Bhatt’s remarks have gone viral, resonating with many amid the ongoing discourse around religious identity and unity in India.

Mahesh Bhatt’s Cinematic Legacy
Over the course of his career, Mahesh Bhatt has made several bold statements that sparked controversy. However, he is also known for delivering powerful films. Some of his acclaimed works include Arth, Saaransh, Naam, Lahu Ke Do Rang, Daddy, Aashiqui, Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahin, Gunah, Sir, Naajayaz, Papa Kehte Hain, Yeh Hai Mumbai Meri Jaan, and Sadak 2.