After the riotous success of his Telugu film Arjun Reddy (2017), Vijay Deverakonda became a national phenomenon. Today, he enjoys a massive fan following in every nook and corner of India. After establishing himself as one of the most sought-after actors in Telugu cinema, Deverakonda is now gearing up to set his foot in Bollywood.
The actor begins his Bollywood inning with filmmaker Puri Jagannadh’s upcoming bilingual film Fighter. Well-known filmmaker Karan Johar is bankrolling the Hindi version of the film under his production house, Dharma Productions.
The latest update on the much-awaited project is that Ananya Panday, who made her acting debut with Student of the Year 2 (2019), has been locked to play the female lead in the bilingual film. Janhvi Kapoor was also in the race to bag the part, but it eventually went to Ananya.
“Puri Jagannadh is directing the film and Vijay plays the lead in Fighter. The film goes on floors in Mumbai from today. A lot of the portions of the movie will be shot in the city. The team was looking for a younger generation actress to be cast opposite Vijay in the actioner. Apparently, Karan Johar plans to present the film's Hindi version,” a source close to the development informs an entertainment portal.
Meanwhile, Ananya Panday is working on her next film Khali Peeli, co-starring Ishaan Khatter. She will then be seen in Dharma Productions’ untitled film by director Shakun Batra. It also features Deepika Padukone and Siddhant Chaturvedi in lead roles. Rumours are also rife in the tinsel town of Bollywood that she will star alongside Saif Ali Khan in a father-daughter relationship story to be helmed by Rahul Dholakia. An official announcement confirming the development is awaited though.
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.