By: Mohnish Singh
National Award-winning costume designer and fashion stylist Neeta Lulla, whose body of work includes several blockbusters, including Taal (1999), Devdas (2002), Fashion (2008), and Jodhaa Akbar (2008), has been roped in to design costumes for filmmaker Gunasekhar’s next magnum-opus Shaakunthalam.
As the title aptly suggests, the big-ticket project is based on the classic love story of great emperor Dushyant and his wife Shakuntala, daughter of the sage Vishwamitra, and his wife Menaka. The plot revolves around their love affair, the secret marriage, separation of imprecation, and reunion of immortal love.
Shaakunthalam stars Tollywood actress Samantha Akkineni in the titular role. Though the female lead has been finalised as Akkineni, the makers are yet to lock the male lead for the magnum opus.
Director Gunasekhar has been roping in some of the biggest names in the industry for his ambitious project. Now, he has signed Neeta Lulla to work on the project. The team is currently busy with the pre-production work of the film.
The historical costume drama will have music by Melody Brahma Manisharma. Talking about the film, director Gunasekhar has earlier said, “Shaakunthalam is going to be a screen adaptation of the playwright Abnignana Shaakunthalam which was written by Kalidas. It is one of the greatest love stories and the story is set in the backdrop of the Himalayas. During the lockdown, I decided to make this part of Mahabharatam as a movie.”
Gunasekhar was earlier set to collaborate with Baahubali: The Beginning (2015) and Baahubali: The Conclusion (2017) fame Rana Daggubati on a film called Hiranyakashyap, but has decided to postpone that film and announced Shaakunthalam as his next directorial venture. The film will be produced by Neelima Guna under the banner of Gunaa Teamworks.
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Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire
Rahul Bhatt sparks controversy over 'insensitive' remarks about sisters Alia and Pooja Bhatt
Rahul Bhatt, fitness trainer and son of veteran filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, has found himself at the centre of a social media storm following controversial remarks about his half-sister, Alia Bhatt. In a recent interview, Rahul drew comparisons between Alia and their older sister Pooja Bhatt, calling the latter more talented, attractive, and principled.
The comments, which many have labelled inappropriate and insensitive, have sparked widespread criticism online. During the interview, Rahul stated, “In my opinion, she (Alia) is not even half of what my real sister Pooja is. Not in talent, not in looks, not in terms of being sexy. In front of my sister, she is ‘paani kam chai’ (watery tea). Amongst the siblings, the most talented and the most moralistic is Pooja.”
Social media users reacted strongly, questioning why Rahul would compare his sisters in such personal terms. Several users were particularly disturbed by his reference to their appearance and sex appeal, pointing out that such comparisons within a family cross boundaries of propriety. One comment read, “This is disturbing. Why talk about your sisters like that? It’s not just weird, it’s wrong.” Another post said, “There’s nothing respectful about comparing your siblings’ attractiveness in public.”
The backlash also reignited conversation around a decades-old controversy involving Mahesh Bhatt and Pooja Bhatt. Rahul was asked about the infamous 1990s magazine cover where the father-daughter duo shared a kiss, which had stirred public outrage at the time. Dismissing the criticism, Rahul said, “It doesn’t make any difference. It’s like water off a duck’s back. We know the truth, and we’ve seen everything since childhood.”
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire, with critics saying it reflects a broader issue of the Bhatt family being insensitive to public perception and boundaries. Many users questioned the need for bringing up old incidents in a bid to defend new and equally questionable statements.
As of now, neither Alia Bhatt nor Pooja Bhatt has issued any public response to Rahul’s remarks. Both actors, known for their significant contributions to Indian cinema, have typically kept family matters private despite living in the public eye.
This episode has also sparked debate over the role of public figures in maintaining respect when discussing family matters in the media. Observers say such comments, especially when involving women’s appearance and personal qualities, reinforce problematic attitudes and fuel unnecessary controversies.
While Rahul Bhatt is not as prominent in the entertainment industry as his father or sisters, his comments have made headlines and placed the Bhatt family in the spotlight for reasons beyond their creative work. For many, this serves as a reminder that public platforms come with responsibility, and that family ties should not be trivialised or dissected for attention or comparison.
The backlash is unlikely to subside soon, especially as fans and followers of Alia and Pooja continue to express disappointment over the way the situation has unfolded. Whether or not Rahul chooses to clarify or apologise remains to be seen.