'Raazi' Actor Ashwath Bhatt's Harrowing Encounter In Turkey: A Vacation Turned Nightmare

Seasoned actor Ashwath Bhatt, known for his role in the film 'Raazi,' recently experienced a harrowing ordeal during his visit to Istanbul, Turkey. While on a short vacation, Ashwath was assaulted by a robber near the iconic Galata Tower in the Beyoglu district. Despite prior warnings from friends about potential dangers, Ashwath did not anticipate the severity of the encounter.

In a conversation with ETimes, Ashwath recounted the distressing incident: "I was walking towards Galata Tower when a man approached me. He had a chain in his hand, and before I could fully comprehend what was happening, he hit me on the back with it. In retrospect, it was likely a gang working in tandem, trying to snatch my bag. For a second, I was so shocked - what's happening? But I think they weren't expecting me to resist and put up a fight."

The situation escalated quickly, but fortunately, a nearby cab driver intervened. The driver saw Ashwath's wound and helped scare off the assailant. He then advised Ashwath to report the incident to the police. Ashwath encountered a patrol car, and the officers directed him to the tourist police, who then guided him to another police station to file a report.

Reflecting on the incident, Ashwath remarked, "It's unfortunate that such a thing happened, especially in such a touristy area. People often advise not to get involved and not to report to the police. That word 'unnecessary' troubles me. People watch films and think Turkey is all romantic, but if we don't report crime, these incidents will only increase. Everybody warned me about pickpockets, but this was beyond anything I had imagined."

About Ashwath Bhatt

Ashwath Bhatt, a graduate of the National School of Drama and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art in Hammersmith, has had a distinguished career in film. He has appeared in notable movies such as 'Haider,' 'Phantom,' 'Raazi,' 'Kesari,' 'Sita Ramam,' and 'Mission Majnu,' among others.

One of his most memorable roles was in Meghna Gulzar's 'Raazi,' where he portrayed Mehboob Syed alongside Alia Bhatt. In an interview with India Today, he shared insights about his character: "Mehboob is very persistent and that's the word that was given to me as an initial brief for the character. He is the backbone of the family. Unfortunately, those bits did not make it to the film where you could get to know Mehboob's backstory."