'Even if I am a thief, he would call me his son': Vikram Bhatt defends Mahesh Bhatt's silence amid fraud controversy

Vikram Bhatt has addressed speculation of a falling out with mentor and director Mahesh Bhatt. He clarified that the latter's public silence during his alleged fraud case was a deliberate, protective choice. He further revealed that Mahesh Bhatt had in fact sent him a congratulatory message just days ago.Speaking to ANI, Vikram Bhatt firmly denied any estrangement from Mahesh Bhatt following his recent booking by the Rajasthan Police in an alleged large-scale fund misappropriation case. While Mahesh's silence on the matter had raised eyebrows, the 'Raaz' and '1920' director gave an explanation.He said, "There are no issues at all. It was only yesterday that he sent me a message to congratulate me. I believe that he didn't give a statement and remained silent, as he did not want to exaggerate or provoke the matter. If he had said something, people would get angrier, and it would cause me more pain."Vikram Bhatt went further, underlining the depth of his bond with Mahesh Bhatt and the trust that underpins it. He added, "Even if I am a thief, he would call me his son. As far as Mahesh Bhatt is concerned, there is a reason behind his silence and no distance. He understood that the time was not right for being aggressive."Earlier this month, Vikram Bhatt and his wife, Shwetambari Bhatt, were booked following an FIR lodged in Udaipur in November 2025, linked to an alleged fraud connected to a film project. The case was registered at the Bhupalpura police station in Rajasthan. The Supreme Court subsequently granted regular bail to both Vikram and Shwetambari.Vikram Bhatt is best known for directing the horror franchises 'Raaz', '1920', and 'Haunted – 3D'. He has shared a long and close professional and personal association with Mahesh Bhatt, who has served as both collaborator and mentor across much of his career.