Mahesh Bhatt began his journey to be a brilliant filmmaker from scratch, but more than his professional graph, it was his love life that had made the headlines. It was in 1968 when Mahesh had tied the knot with a Britisher, Lorraine Bright. What began as a teenage romance, eventually blossomed into forever wala love and in the late 60s, they became Mr and Mrs as per Arya Samaj traditions. Four years into marital bliss, Mahesh and Lorraine (changed her name to Kiran post-wedding and called herself Kiran Bhatt thereafter) had welcomed their daughter, Pooja Bhatt.
Then from the late 70s began Mahesh Bhatt’s extra-marital affair with Parveen Babi, which became a prime reason for the trouble in his and Kiran Bhatt’s marriage. After two-and-a-half years of romance, Mahesh and Parveen parted ways and needless to say, during that time his wife, Kiran had grown distant from him too. Since Mahesh didn’t want to alienate his wife and children, he stayed legally wedded to Kiran even after a mutual separation. During the shoot of Saaransh, Mahesh met his ‘the one for life’, Soni Razdan, whom he secretly dated for around two years.
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Because of Mahesh Bhatt’s past of failed relationships, Soni Razdan’s parents raised concern over their relationship but he had assured them that he is serious about marrying their daughter. Since he couldn’t divorce Kiran, Mahesh converted his faith to marry Soni in a secret wedding and even his first wife had no idea about the same. Mahesh and Soni were then blessed with Shaheen Bhatt in 1988 and Alia Bhatt in 1993.
Mahesh Bhatt’s two families have no animosity towards each other and get along very well, despite the turbulent past. But in a throwback interview with the Stardust, Pooja Bhatt had borne her heart out on parents, Mahesh Bhatt and Lorraine Bright’s broken marriage and his second wife, Soni Razdan. Pooja Bhatt had said:
“I’ve been very lucky that I’ve not had a really traumatic childhood. Okay, Mom and Dad used to fight and there would be utter chaos at times at home, but I would only be a silent spectator to all this. I was too young to do anything about it. Of course, it did have some psychological effect on me, but then I guess I was growing up and learnt to accept it as part of my life. My parents never hid anything from me. They saw to it that I didn’t suffer because of their differences and I got the best of both the worlds. So, where’s the trauma?”
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Revealing how she was a silent spectator of the fights between her parents and its psychological effect on her, Pooja Bhatt had continued:
“You know. What spoils a marriage or a relationship is permanence! When one starts seeking permanence in a relationship then that’s the end of it. Nothing ever remains the same! One has to adjust to the changing times. I do not blame only my Dad or my mom for that matter for their split. Both are equally to blame for their soured relationship. For it takes two hands to clap. Sometimes when I look around and see marriages breaking up, I get very disillusioned by this whole institution. But then I think it is up to the individuals to make a marriage work.”
Pooja Bhatt had also shared what changed her initial hatred for her step-mother, Soni Razdan. She had stated:
“Why, my father didn’t desert us. It’s just that my parents parted ways because they thought they couldn’t live together. They are still the best of friends. My father still comes over to our house and supports us financially too. Initially, I did resent my dad for leaving my mother for another woman. I also used to hate Soni for snatching away dad from us. In fact, there used to be times when I used to flare-up at the very mention of her name. It was my mother who made me understand and think practically. She would tell me not to resent or hate my father for anything for basically he is a good man at heart.”
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After coming to terms with her mother’s words of advice, Pooja Bhatt had poured her heart out on her now-relationship with her dad, Mahesh Bhatt. Pooja had remarked:
“And who should know this better than her who has spent the best years of her life with him? She would say, ‘Just because things didn’t work out between us doesn’t mean he is a bad man. He’s a terrific person and an intelligent, wonderful being’. Now that I’ve come to terms I realise that I love my dad a lot and I don’t know what I’d do without him. Now I know that he is the man in my life. We were great pals right from my childhood. In fact, even before my parents separated, he used to confide a lot in me. He never hid anything from me.”
Revealing that before anyone else, not even her mother, Mahesh Bhatt had told Pooja Bhatt about his affair with Soni Razdan. Pooja had shared:
“Once I was fast asleep and at around one-thirty in the morning he woke me up from my deep slumber and told me, ‘Pooja I’m seeing another woman. I’m having an affair with her and I want you to know first’. This was even before my mom knew of it. So that shows how open and honest he is with me. As a father he is the most loving and understanding dad one could have, I remember, once we were all sitting and joking when dad jokingly asked me, ‘Baby, would you marry me?’ I said no. I’d rather be his daughter than his wife. For, Mahesh Bhatt makes a lousy husband and a terrific father. I wish that I could always have him as my father in all my future lives.”
When asked if she had taken after her father, Pooja Bhatt had nodded and had said:
“Yes, I think I have. My father has been a big influence on me. He has taught me so many good things in life. The realities of everyday living and the fruitlessness of certain things we hold dear. People even say I talk like him and am intelligent. I like "it when people say such things because I’m proud of being his daughter. Frankly, I wouldn’t have done this film ‘Daddy’ if it wasn’t for daddy himself. Only he could convince me to do the film.”
When asked how she reconciled herself to this peculiar bond of friendship between Mahesh Bhatt’s two ‘families’, Pooja Bhatt had retorted:
“In the beginning, like I said, we (Soni and I) were total strangers and she was my enemy. But they say na, that time heals all wounds. It healed my heartaches as well. We began by saying hi, hello and then onto making small talk. It took off from there and now we are good friends. It’s just of late but mom too has started speaking to Soni. Dad and I didn’t try to make them friends. It was on their own that they did so. Done mutually on their own. Now they get along fine.”
Being friends was one thing and posing as one big happy family was quite another. When probed further if she found it weird and unusual, Pooja had replied:
“True, it is unusual and may sound weird. But then you also forget that we are really very happy with the situation. Today people might call it funny, but don’t you think that it is better to be happy like this than have tension and bad blood like in other relationships? I don’t think that being one big happy family is abnormal at all, if the end result is happiness and normalcy.”
Reacting to her dad, Mahesh Bhatt’s statement, “I’m a bast***…!” Pooja Bhatt had laughingly commented:
“My dad does this all the time, most of the time for effect. He loves shocking people. I was also quite shocked and embarrassed by his statement, but I didn’t pay much attention to it. I did ask him very casually about it and he said that he hadn’t said it so many words. He was asked, whether he was a b - - - - - - and all dad said was ‘yes’. That’s it. But then it was as good as saying it all. Anyway, I prefer to think he never said it at all for I love him too much to believe people. As for my friends, no one ridiculed me. They were very understanding. They never poked fun, they never teased me about my family problems. Of course, they knew that I would scratch their eyes out if they said anything about my dad or mom.”
“Didn’t she seek companionship elsewhere? Hadn’t she ever considered remarrying?” Pooja Bhatt had retorted:
“My mom is a very attractive woman and a lot of men call her up and ask her out. She does go out at times to parties and dinner, but that’s it! No emotional attachments for her. She is quite happy the way she is and doesn’t want to mess with marriage once again. Also, I personally wouldn’t want her to marry again.”
We hope relationships remain the same in the Bhatt household and we wish them happiness and love for life!
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