An old video of filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt with the late actress Jiah Khan resurfaced online and went viral. The footage, reportedly from 2004, showed a 16-year-old Jiah sharing a close moment and laughing with Bhatt. This video quickly gained attention, sparking intense discussions on social media.
Viral Video Resurfaces Amid Sushant Singh Rajput’s Death Investigation
After the investigation into Sushant Singh Rajput’s death began, several old Bollywood videos surfaced online. Among them was a clip featuring Mahesh Bhatt and Jiah Khan, which quickly went viral. Many netizens speculated about Bhatt’s alleged involvement in the case, particularly due to his links with Sushant’s girlfriend, Rhea Chakraborty. Previously, a WhatsApp chat between Rhea and Bhatt had also surfaced, in which she expressed gratitude for his support in breaking up with Sushant.
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Jiah Khan’s Connection to Mahesh Bhatt
Jiah Khan made her Bollywood debut in 2007 with Ram Gopal Varma’s Nishabd alongside Amitabh Bachchan. However, unconfirmed reports suggested that she was initially considered for the 2004 film Tumsa Nahin Dekha, produced by Mahesh Bhatt’s brother, Mukesh Bhatt. The resurfaced video reignited conversations about her association with Bhatt and added fuel to the ongoing controversy.
Mahesh Bhatt Faces Social Media Backlash
At the time, Mahesh Bhatt was already facing severe criticism for his alleged role in promoting nepotism in Bollywood. His association with Rhea Chakraborty only intensified the public outrage. As discussions on Bollywood favoritism gained momentum following Sushant’s death, Bhatt became one of the primary figures targeted by online trolls.
Additionally, his film Sadak 2, starring his daughters Alia Bhatt and Pooja Bhatt alongside Sanjay Dutt and Aditya Roy Kapur, became a symbol of Bollywood nepotism for many netizens. The film’s trailer received massive backlash, ranking among the top three most disliked videos globally. A social media campaign to boycott Sadak 2 gained traction, and the film, which was released on an OTT platform on August 28, continued to face heavy criticism.
Jiah Khan was found dead under suspicious circumstances on June 3, 2013. Actor Sooraj Pancholi, her boyfriend at the time, was accused in the case, with Jiah’s mother, Rabia Khan, alleging that Sooraj and his father, Aditya Pancholi, used their influence to cover up the truth. The case remains one of Bollywood’s most controversial legal battles.