Starring popular Telugu star Vijay Deverakonda and Ananya Panday in lead roles, Liger is of the most-awaited films of 2022, which has been creating a lot of noise ever since its official announcement in 2020.
The film marks the debut of Deverakonda in Bollywood while Panday will be setting her foot in Telugu cinema with the bilingual film. Boxing legend Mike Tyson will also be seen playing an important role in the film.
Directed Puri Jagannadh and produced by Karan Johar, Charmee Kaur, and Jagannadh, Liger is set for its release on 25th August, 2022. While the film is still a few months away from its release, reports have already started circulating about the direct-to-digital premiere of the film.
If reports are to be believed, Amazon Prime Video has acquired the film to stream it digitally. The streaming media giant has apparently bought the streaming rights to the film for approximately £ 5,925,336. However, there is no official word to confirm the same. As per reports, the makers had demanded approximately £ 7,900,261, but the streamer locked the deal in approximately £ 5,925,336.
Liger has been shot on a lavish scale. Deverakonda, who plays a kickboxer with a stutter, underwent a dramatic physical transformation to pull off his character in the film and went to Thailand for martial arts training.
Made under the banners of Dharma Productions and Puri Connects, Liger is a sports action film both written and directed by Jagannadh. The film will be simultaneously released in Telugu and Hindi along with the dubbed versions in Tamil, Malayalam, and Kannada languages.
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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.