Mahesh Pooja 1990 Cover(Photo Credit –Instagram)

In 1990, the magazine cover of director Mahesh Bhatt and his daughter, actress Pooja Bhatt, became a controversy in the whole of India. The picture was of the father and daughter kissing each other on the lips defying societal norms and causing a heated debate.

The photo showed a young Pooja Bhatt, who was then in her early twenties, being kissed by her father as they were seated. At a time when Indian society considered public displays of affection as taboo, especially when the family was involved, the image was seen as provocative and unsuitable by many. The cover became an object of public discussion involving morality, cultural values, and the extent of artistic freedom.

The magazine cover led to a media storm watched, which was joined by numerous newspapers, television stations, and public spaces. Fans blamed the family for crossing the moral line and tarnishing the traditional family values.