‘We’re Living In Bizarre Times’: Mahesh Bhatt Reacts To Viral Video Of Ranbir, Alia's New Home

Last month, Bollywood actress Alia Bhatt reacted strongly after a video of her and Ranbir Kapoor’s newly built home in Bandra, Mumbai, went viral on social media. She strongly condemned the unauthorized

filming and circulation of the video, calling it a ‘clear invasion of privacy’ and a serious security issue. Now, Alia’s father Mahesh Bhatt has reacted to the security breach, and weighed in on privacy debate. He stated that a ‘goldfish has no hiding place’, and that we are living in strange times when public figures today have little to no private space. He also opened up about Alia and Ranbir’s repeated efforts to request privacy, particularly for their daughter Raha.

While speaking with NDTV, Mahesh Bhatt said, “Let’s face the fact that a goldfish has no hiding place. We are living in bizarre times, and the walls have crumbled. Invasive journalism is now legitimised. You have everything that is happening to people being covered. You can keep on complaining and keep on talking about the values of privacy, but that’s the ideal world that was; now it’s a different time. I am not saying that you should not use the means you have to avoid that. They (Alia and Ranbir) have personally gone out there and begged them and said don’t do it. It’s a trauma. Alia, particularly, is very, very concerned about this because the child (daughter Raha) gets attention, which can scar the child’s formative years.”

He further acknowledged the pressures faced by the paparazzi, who often work under tough conditions and rely on such coverage for their livelihoods. “Somebody wants it. There is a demand, and somebody is there to supply it. How do you control that? But I think the parents are very very, very intelligently handling the situation and Alia, particularly, is very careful and very cautious. Repeatedly, with folded hands, they request the paparazzi, and I must say that the paparazzi have been… though it’s their source of income. They live for every click they take. They stand in the rain, they stand in heat, winter, and they have to somehow go back with something, or they will lose their jobs. So, where do you stop it?”

Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt’s newly built dream house is reportedly estimated to be worth a whopping Rs 250 crore. It is located in Bandra’s upscale Pali Hill area. The property, which originally belonged to Ranbir’s grandparents, Raj Kapoor and Krishna Raj Kapoor, was inherited by Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Kapoor, Ranbir’s parents, in 1980. The house had been under construction for a few years.