After having worked together on various projects over the years, including Rowdy Rathore (2012), Joker (2012), Once Upon A Time In Mumbai Dobaara (2013), Holiday: A Soldier Is Never Off Duty (2014), and Mission Mangal (2019), Akshay Kumar and Sonakshi Sinha are set to reunite for filmmaker Mudassar Aziz’s next directorial venture titled 2XL.
Spilling some more beans, a source in the know tells a publication, “Mudassar Aziz is pretty busy. Thanks to the Covid-19 lockdown, he has been working on multiple scripts. But yes, he has finalized one and intends on commencing work as soon as possible.”
Prod him further and the source adds, “The film in question has been titled 2XL and will be produced by Ashwin Varde. In terms of casting for 2XL, the filmmaker has signed on Akshay Kumar for the lead, while Sonakshi Sinha is likely to be paired opposite him.”
Further talking about the film, the source says, “Akshay Kumar will be seen playing a rather unconventional role. In fact, as the title suggests 2XL, Kumar will be seen as an obese character somewhat on the lines of the Hollywood Eddie Murphy film Nutty Professor (1996). Interestingly, the last time someone played an obese character in a Bollywood film was Anil Kapoor in the film Badhaai Ho Badhaai (2002). Much like his character’s weighty issues, Kumar will face the same.”
“An international make-up and prosthetics artists is being roped in for the film. The makers do not want to leave any effort in ensuring they get everything right. No one has been locked yet for this, but it will happen soon. Once done, the rest of the work on the film will be wrapped up since the makers are looking to commence shooting in March 2022,” the source signs off. Producer Ashwin Varde has, however, denied the development.
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A scene from The Thursday Murder Club, where four retirees turn amateur detectives in a quiet British village shaken by a real murderInstagram/NetflixUK
Stills from Andaz Apna Apna
Stills from Andaz Apna Apna
Vinay Kumar Sinha
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.