After facing a series of troubles, the shooting for the fourth instalment of the super successful comedy franchise Housefull (2010) has been finally wrapped up. Headlined by Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh, Bobby Deol, Kriti Kharbanda, Pooja Hegde and Kriti Sanon, Housefull 4 hit the shooting floor in London a couple of months ago.
Akshay Kumar, who has been a constant in all the instalments of the series, took to micro-blogging site Twitter to announce the completion of the movie. The superstar shared a photograph of the team and wrote: “While we have called it a ‘wrap’ for Housefull 4, fun never ends... See you all in 2019!”
Actress Kriti Sanon, who is new to the franchise, also shared the same picture and wrote, “Mad fun crazy ride comes to an end! It is a wrap for Housefull4.”
Housefull 4 is one of those films which had to face a lot of trouble due to #MeToo movement. Earlier the movie was being helmed by Sajid Khan and actor Nana Patekar was also a part of the ensemble cast. However, both of them had to walk out of the big-ticket project after being accused of sexual misconduct.
Subsequently, Nana Patekar was replaced by Rana Daggubati while Farhad Samji had to step in to take over the directorial reign from Sajid Khan.
Samji too shared the same picture on Instagram and wrote, “The final schedule for #Housefull4 is over! Lifetime of an experience. Inshallah #Housefull4 will SCORE, ROAR and machao SHOR…”
Produced by Sajid Nadiadwala under Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment, Housefull 4 is set to enter cinemas on 26th October, 2019.
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.