Fronted by Prabhas, Kriti Sanon, and Saif Ali Khan, the much-publicised Indian film Adipurush finally entered cinemas on June 16 amid much fanfare. Based on the venerated Hindu epic Ramayana, the mega-budgeted mythological drama from director Om Raut starts directly from the episode of Janaki’s (Kriti Sanon) abduction by Lankesh (Saif Ali Khan) and then focuses on how Raghav (Prabhas) and Shesh (Sunny Singh), with the help of Bajrang (Devdutta Nage), wage a war against the 10-headed Lankesh and bring Janaki back.
Adipurush, as the teaser and trailer showed, is based on a lavish scale. The makers have left no stone unturned in making sure that every scene of the film reflects the money that has gone into creating magnificent sets, rich costumes, and CGI. However, despite being mounted on such a huge scale and having well-established actors like Prabhas, Kriti Sanon, and Saif Ali Khan on the cast to play lead characters, the film lacks soul.
Prabhas, who became a household name after the thunderous success of SS Rajamouli’s Baahubali: The Beginning (2015) and Baahubali: The Conclusion (2017), seems a poor choice for the role of Ram, who is called Raghav here. He looks dull and lethargic more often than not, his eyes always weary and swollen. It is hard to imagine a more miscast Ram in any version of Ramayana. Kriti Sanon as Janaki, or Sita, is decent. She does justice to her limited presence in a 3-hour-long film. Having said that, there is absolutely no chemistry between her and Prabhas. Saif Ali Khan as Lankesh fails to leave any impact.
The makers faced massive backlash when they released the first official teaser of the film during Ram Navami last year. A large section of the audience panned the teaser for the poor VFX and cartoonish look of the actors. This led the makers to postpone the film by good five months as they said they needed more time to polish the film. However, when you finally see the film, you find that VFX and CGI are still not up to the mark.
Dialogues by well-known lyricist and dialogue writer Manoj Muntashir leave no impact. In fact, the film is loaded with some objectional dialogues that do not suit the characters. The film has a very dark and gloomy vibe about it does not succeed in delivering the kind of experience the makers promised.
Cast: Prabhas, Kriti Sanon, Saif Ali Khan, and Sunny Singh
Direction: Om Raut
Producers: Bhushan Kumar, Krishnan Kumar, and Om Raut
Music: Ajay Atul and Sachet Parampara
Runtime: 2 hours and 59 minutes
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.