Rahul Bhatt: Overcoming Trauma from the Mumbai Attacks Connection

Rahul Bhatt, the son of famous filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt and half-brother of actress Alia Bhatt, is known for being at the center of a massive controversy. His life changed forever in 2009 when it was revealed that he had a friendship with David Headley, one of the planners behind the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. Although Rahul was never accused of anything wrong, his connection to Headley made him a key witness in the case.

In a touching interview with Hindi Rush, Rahul opened up about how this event deeply affected his life. He called it the worst trauma he’s ever experienced. He explained, “I suffered the most… my identity was destroyed… my character was ruined… for nothing.” Even though he didn’t do anything wrong, people judged him because of his friendship with Headley. Rahul expressed that if he had committed a crime, he would have been brave enough to face the consequences, saying, “I didn’t do anything… and if I had, I would have accepted my crime.”

Ongoing Online Harassment

Even after so many years, Rahul still faces hate online. He shared that every day, he gets messages calling him a traitor, although he had no part in the attacks. “It hurts to be called a traitor when you have done nothing… You start not trusting people,” he said. These personal attacks have made him cautious and even a little paranoid about whom he talks to, especially in his job.

Rahul clarified that he was never charged with a crime; he was just a witness. He believed that the media played a big part in changing how people see him, criticizing how they highlighted his connection with Headley. “I was never the accused, I was a witness… If I had done something wrong, I wouldn’t be here,” he argued. He also mentioned that if he were guilty, he wouldn’t have been allowed to stay free. Unfortunately, he feels that he will always be remembered as “Headley’s friend.”

No Regrets, Only Strength

Despite everything he’s been through, Rahul said he has no regrets about knowing Headley. He confessed that he didn’t know Headley’s true intentions back then and holds no hard feelings. “What can I do? He was a friend. I didn’t know his bad side… If I had to go through everything again, I would,” he said. Rahul believes that facing these challenges has made him stronger and less afraid of tough situations.

He acknowledged that the experience has left a permanent mark on him, stating that the label of being “Headley’s friend” will always follow him. Still, he remains determined, saying the lessons he learned were important. “Adversity has taught me. I’m not scared anymore… What’s there to fear if you haven’t done anything wrong?”