Last seen in Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s Fanney Khan (2018), Aishwarya Rai Bachchan next stars in prominent filmmaker Mani Ratnam’s much-awaited period drama Ponniyin Selvan. The two-part film, which went before cameras in 2019, is now nearing completion.
If fresh reports are to be believed, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan will soon start filming the final schedule of the high-profile film. The team was recently shooting in Puducherry and now they will head to Hyderabad to shoot the final schedule. According to reports, a huge fortress has been constructed at Ramoji Film City to shoot the last schedule.
Mani Ratnam will reportedly film a series of intense war sequences in the forthcoming schedule. Apart from the war sequences, the filmmaker has a song to shoot with the entire cast. The song will be high on emotions, we hear.
According to reports, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan plays a double role in the film, of a mother and a daughter. In addition to her, the ensemble cast also features Vikram, Karthi, Jayaram, Trisha, Jayam Ravi, and Aishwarya Lekshmi in prominent roles, and Prabhu, Sarathkumar, Vikram Prabhu, and Sobhita Dhulipala in supporting roles.
Mani Ratnam and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan are reuniting after a long gap of 11 years. The two last worked together on Raavan (2010). The actress began her acting career with the director in his classic political drama Iruvar in 1997. The duo has also worked together on the 2007 film Guru.
Recently, the makers of Ponniyin Selvan unveiled the new official poster of the first part of the two-part film. Speculations were rife in the industry that the team was planning to make Ponniyin Selvan as a series and the launch of the new poster a couple of weeks ago just confirmed that.
Keep visiting this space over and again for more updates and reveals from the world of entertainment.
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.