By: Mohnish Singh
After wrapping up Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment’s Bachchan Pandey in Rajasthan, Bollywood star Akshay Kumar is set to commence work on his next film Ram Setu. According to reports, the film is set to begin production in April.
Spilling some beans on the first shooting schedule of the film, a source in the know tells a publication, “Akshay will start shooting for Ram Setu from April. The first schedule will begin in Mumbai which will last for a month. After which the actor along with his co-stars will move to another city in India, which will be finalised soon. In the meanwhile, the cast will continue meeting for reading sessions and prep.”
Abhishek Sharma, who has previously directed Tere Bin Laden (2010) and Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran (2018), will direct Ram Setu. In addition to Akshay Kumar, the upcoming film also stars Jacqueline Fernandez and Nushrratt Bharuccha in principal roles. Vikram Malhotra is bankrolling the big-ticket venture.
Recently, Kumar shared a picture on his Instagram account with his co-stars, director, producer, and creative producer. “The team that preps together excels together! An extremely productive script reading session with the team of Ram Setu this evening. Can’t wait to begin filming this one,” he captioned the image.
Aside from Bachchan Pandey and Ram Setu, Akshay Kumar has several other exciting projects on his platter at the moment. He is presently awaiting the release of Rohit Shetty’s much-awaited actioner Sooryavanshi, which will be followed by espionage thriller Bell Bottom and romantic drama Atrangi Re. The actor also has Colour Yellow Productions’ Raksha Bandhan and Jagan Shakti’s Lion in his pocket.
Keep visiting this space over and again for more updates and reveals from the glitzy 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.