Uorfi Javed Responds To Alia Bhatt’s Mother Soni Razdan’s ‘Middle Class Upbringing’ Statement

The Bhatt family is no stranger to being in the limelight, often making headlines for their personal lives and statements. Last year, Soni Razdan, wife of Mahesh Bhatt and mother to Shaheen and Alia Bhatt, shared how she provided her daughters with a “middle-class upbringing”, back in the day.

She recounted a story of a flight to emphasize their supposed struggles, but this narrative sparked backlash. The statement did not sit well with many including influencer, Urfi Javed.

Soni Razdan recalls financial struggle when she had to travel via first class and her kids, via economy

Last year, Soni Razdan, actor and wife of filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt shared insights into a phase of her life when financial constraints influenced how she managed her family. In an interview, she recounted a specific instance during a flight to Dubai, where she couldn’t afford three business-class tickets.

As a solution, she chose to travel in first class while her daughters, Alia and Shaheen, traveled in economy class. She recalled visiting them during the flight and noticing how discomforting it was for her kids.

“Once we were going to Dubai and I did not have money to buy three business class tickets. I told my children, I will travel in first class and both of you will travel in economy. When I went to see them, a woman sitting right in front of them had reclined her seat, due to which the children were not able to sit properly.”

Razdan also reflected on her efforts to provide a “middle-class upbringing” to her daughters

Razdan also reflected on her efforts to provide a “middle-class upbringing” to her daughters back in the old days when Mahesh Bhatt was not as prominent. She shared that in 2004, they lived in a two-bedroom apartment in Mumbai. While Mahesh Bhatt’s success as a producer brought financial stability, she ensured her children grew up with grounded values. Razdan mentioned that she drove a modest car, while Mahesh Bhatt had a car with a driver for work.

“We used to live in a two-bedroom apartment in Mumbai in 2004. Money started coming in after Mahesh Bhatt became a producer. I am happy that my children have received a middle-class upbringing, just like I have brought them up. My husband had a car and a driver who used to drop him to work. I had a Jane (car) which I used to drop and pick up my children from school.”

These statements, particularly the anecdote about flight tickets, did not resonate well with some audiences. To give a counter response was none other than Urfi Javed.

Urfi Javed took to Instagram and gave a counter-response on the statements of Soni Razdan

Influencer and actress Urfi Javed did not hold back in responding to Soni Razdan’s comments about providing a middle-class upbringing to her daughters. Taking to social media, Urfi questioned the portrayal of privilege as struggle.

Giving a befitting statement she wrote,

“Can we stop hyping poverty? Having your children travel in economy is not middle-class parenting. Having money or spending it is not a bad thing.”

Urfi’s sharp critique highlighted how such statements can come across as tone-deaf, especially when many genuinely struggle to make ends meet.

Despite this, Soni Razdan stood firm to her statements

Despite facing backlash, Soni Razdan stood by her statements, clarifying that her intention was not to hype poverty but to highlight the values of modesty and practicality she instilled in her daughters.

She explained that the decision to have her children travel in economy class reflected the financial constraints they faced at the time, not an attempt to downplay their privilege.

Razdan emphasized that their middle-class upbringing was about maintaining grounded values, even as financial stability improved after Mahesh Bhatt’s success in filmmaking.

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