More than two decades after Ranvir Shorey and Pooja Bhatt’s relationship ended amid public controversy, the episode has resurfaced following Rahul Bhatt’s candid conversation with Siddharth Kannan. Pooja Bhatt’s brother revisited his 2002 confrontation with Ranvir and admitted that he had overreacted at the time, reopening a chapter many believed had faded into the past.
Rahul revealed that he broke the glass of Ranvir’s car and fractured one of his ribs during the altercation. He confirmed that he was arrested and formally charged following the incident, and said he regretted taking the law into his own hands. According to Rahul, Ranvir later came forward during the legal proceedings and agreed to compound the offence, after which the FIR was quashed.
What Happened in 2002
Ranvir Shorey and Pooja Bhatt were in a relationship in the early 2000s and were living together at the time. Their relationship ended after a series of disagreements that became public, with both sides offering differing accounts of the final confrontation. Pooja had alleged that Ranvir turned violent during an argument, which Ranvir denied, maintaining his own version of events.
According to Ranvir’s account given to Rediff in December 2002, he decided to leave Pooja’s home after an argument. He claimed that upon reaching his car, he found its windows broken and alleged that Rahul attacked him with an iron rod. Ranvir said he then went to the Bandra police station but was sent to the hospital due to bleeding, reportedly suffering stitches to the back of his head, a rib injury, and a knee cartilage dislocation. A Rediff report dated December 23, 2002 confirmed that Rahul was arrested for assault and released on bail by a Bandra court the next day, having been booked under Section 324 of the Indian Penal Code. The Times of India also reported at the time that Pooja had separately filed a complaint alleging that Ranvir had assaulted her, highlighting that the controversy involved competing allegations rather than a single incident.
In his recent conversation with Siddharth Kannan, Rahul gave a more direct account, stating that Ranvir and Pooja had an argument during which he alleged Ranvir hit Pooja. He said he intervened, acknowledging that his response was excessive, and accepted responsibility for the legal consequences that followed.
Ranvir Shorey’s Response
Reacting to Rahul’s remarks, Ranvir posted on X that over 20 years of what he described as ‘malicious propaganda and slander’ had finally given way to some truth. He added what he called the ‘missing piece’ of the story, stating that defending oneself against violence while trying to escape a toxic situation is not the same as ‘hitting’ — directly challenging the framing of the original confrontation between him and Pooja.
Responding to a user on X, Ranvir also explained that he had forgiven Rahul out of respect for Rahul’s father and because of the relationship he had shared with Pooja. The controversy had a lasting impact on Ranvir’s personal and professional life. During Bigg Boss OTT 3 in 2024, he referred to the episode without naming Pooja, calling it the ‘biggest scandal’ of his life. He recalled being in a difficult phase following his mother’s death, after which his brother suggested he move to the US, where he completed a six-month acting course before returning to India to resume his career.
Mahesh Bhatt had publicly supported his daughter’s version of events at the time, stating that Rahul had responded after hearing Pooja call for help. With conflicting accounts from both sides, the controversy continues to carry two distinct layers even today — the documented legal events of 2002 and the personal narratives of those involved, now revisited more than twenty years later.
Source: Newsx
