Muzammil Ibrahim Says Pooja Bhatt Was Abusive on Set, Claims ‘Dhokha’ Experience Caused Depression
Model-turned-actor Muzammil Ibrahim, known for his early 2000s modeling fame and hit music videos, has accused filmmaker Pooja Bhatt of being “extremely abusive” toward him during the production of the 2007 film Dhokha. In a recent podcast interview with Siddharth Kannan, Ibrahim opened up about his traumatic experience, saying the behavior he endured on set left him battling depression at just 20 years old.
He claimed Bhatt was not only verbally abusive but also had a generally hostile attitude toward actors. Despite being backed by Mahesh Bhatt, who was reportedly fond of him and even attempted to intervene, Muzammil said the mistreatment continued when Mahesh wasn’t around.
“I was respectful towards her, but she treated me with contempt. Every morning, I prayed to be spared from her wrath,” Ibrahim revealed, describing the filming process as a personal “nightmare.”
The actor also said Mukesh Bhatt and other crew members confirmed Pooja’s harsh reputation. Despite being offered further roles by Mahesh Bhatt and Soni Razdan, he turned them down out of fear and discomfort.
Ibrahim went on to allege that Pooja Bhatt had previously compared actors to dogs, claiming she expected complete obedience on set. “That kind of mentality about actors says everything about her as a person,” he stated.
This isn’t the first time Muzammil Ibrahim has spoken candidly about the industry. He recently shared that Ayan Mukerji originally wrote Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani with him in mind, though he declined the role, saying Deepika Padukone was a better fit.
As Bollywood continues to grapple with issues of workplace conduct and mental health, Ibrahim’s revelations add to ongoing conversations about the treatment of newcomers and the emotional toll of toxic work environments.
