Mahesh Bhatt saw a failed father, so did his son Rahul: ‘Tried to love him, he could’ve tried too’

Mahesh Bhatt, a filmmaker who began his career in the 1970s, found his way into the spotlight in the 1980s with the semi-autobiographical film Arth, which delved into his troubled marriage and extramarital affair. Throughout his career, Mahesh frequently drew inspiration from his own life experiences, creating semi-autobiographical films. However, the examination of his relationship with his son, Rahul Bhatt, remained limited to his perspective as a son, never portrayed on celluloid.

Rahul Bhatt, born towards the end of Mahesh Bhatt's marriage with his first wife in the early 1980s, often referred to himself as a "super bastard child." He believed that despite being legally married to his mother, Mahesh never fulfilled the paternal responsibilities that come with having a child. Growing up, Rahul felt ignored by his father and was burdened with the perception that his parents' marriage was unstable.

Despite their emotional differences, Mahesh recognized that they shared a common experience of growing up without a father.