Telugu-cinema Superstar Allu Arjun on Thursday said though his latest Pushpa: The Rise will face off with the Hollywood biggie Spider-Man: No Way Home, he is looking forward to the audience flocking back to theatres, a culture he believes is currently on the decline.
The first part of Arjun's multilingual action thriller Pushpa is scheduled to open in cinemas on Friday, a day after the much-awaited Sony-Marvel superhero movie headlined by Tom Holland.
During a special event of the film in Mumbai, Allu Arjun said it is important the audience makes the journey to theatres for the culture of watching in a cinema hall to thrive, irrespective of the film.
"We are in a situation right now where today in India, and world over, the culture of people coming to cinemas has gone down. I am not looking at Pushpa or another film, I am looking at Indian cinema. Cinema should win and not just Indian cinema, but world cinema overall," the actor told reporters.
The 39-year-old star said that he hopes tent-pole films like Spider-Man, Pushpa: The Rise or the Kabir Khan-directed cricket drama 83, set to release next Friday, go on to become a huge draw at the box office.
"I think Spiderman… should get people back to theatres, Pushpa should get Indian people back into theatres. It is about celebrating cinema back again. There is also 83 next week. I wish them all the best. I hope it brings people back to theatres. I also would like to congratulate Hindi cinema for the success of Sooryavanshi. I am more bothered about cinema right now than Pushpa itself," Arjun added.
Pushpa reunites Arjun with Sukumar, the director behind his 2004 blockbuster movie Arya. The soon-to-be-released film chronicles the red sanders heist in the hills of Andhra and depicts the convoluted nexus that unfurls in the course of the narrative of a man who is taken by avarice.
Arjun said working on Pushpa was a challenging experience. "It's a difficult film to shoot. We were shooting in a forest with around 500 people. The logistics including providing food, accommodation... Keeping the sanitisation and following all protocols was really difficult. I have always maintained that shooting for this film was equivalent to shooting for four films," he added.
Pushpa: The Rise also stars Rashmika Mandanna and Fahadh Faasil. Produced by Mythri Movie Makers in association with Muttamsetty Media, the film will be released in Telugu, Tamil, Hindi, Kannada, and Malayalam.
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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.