When Rohan Sippy, the son of renowned filmmaker Ramesh Sippy, decided to make his directorial debut with Kuch Naa Kaho (2003), he could not think of any other actors than Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and his childhood friend Abhishek Bachchan as leads. After Kuch Naa Kaho, Rohan collaborated with Abhishek on films such as Bluffmaster and Dum Maaro Dum, but he could never cast Aishwarya in any of his ventures. But if latest reports are to be believed, the duo might join forces once again after a massive gap of fifteen years.
Buzz has it that Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has been approached to star in a thriller which will be co-produced by Siddharth Anand and KriAarj Entertainment. “The thriller will be centred around Aishwarya’s character. It will also have a younger romantic lead, two popular stars, alongside Aishwarya. But she will play the main protagonist,” reveals a source.
The source adds, “Aishwarya is very excited about this project. She and Rohan go back a long way. Rohan Sippy is one of Abhishek’s closest friends. After she did Rohan’s Kuch Na Kaho opposite Abhishek, Aishwarya was supposed to star in Rohan Sippy’s Bluffmaster with Abhishek. But she had to be replaced by Priyanka Chopra at the last minute. To be coming together with Rohan after so many years is fantastic. Aishwarya will be going in for a completely new look in this film.”
Set in Mumbai and Australia, the untitled film will go to sets later this year.
Meanwhile, Aishwarya will shortly be seen in KriArj Entertainment's Fanne Khan, which also stars Anil Kapoor and Rajkummar Rao.
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.