THE action drama Animal and the family drama Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani have emerged as the leading contenders at the 2024 International Indian Film Academy Awards, the organisers announced on Monday (19).
Animal, featuring Ranbir Kapoor and Rashmika Mandanna, tops the list with 11 nominations, while Rocky Aur Rani..., starring Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt, follows closely with 10 nominations.
IIFA unveiled the full list of nominations in its 2024 Popular Category, spanning 10 segments, including best picture, direction, and leading role performances.
Competing for best picture are the social dramas 12th Fail and Satyaprem Ki Katha, alongside Animal, Rocky Aur Rani..., the action thriller Jawan, and Sam Bahadur, which chronicles the life of India's first field marshal, Sam Manekshaw.
In the direction category, the race is among Vidhu Vinod Chopra for 12th Fail, Sandeep Reddy Vanga for Animal, Karan Johar for Rocky Aur Rani..., Atlee for Jawan, Siddharth Anand for Pathaan and Amit Rai for OMG 2.
Bhatt (Rocky Aur Rani...), Deepika Padukone (Pathaan), Rani Mukerji (Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway), Kiara Advani (Satyaprem Ki Katha) and Taapsee Pannu (Dunki) will contend for the award of performance in a leading role (female).
In the performance in a leading role (male) category, the nominees are Vikrant Massey (12th Fail), Ranbir Kapoor (Animal), Ranveer Singh (Rocky Aur Rani...), Shah Rukh Khan (Jawan), Vicky Kaushal (Sam Bahadur) and Sunny Deol (Gadar 2).
In the performance in a supporting role (female) category, Triptii Dimri, who garnered massive fan following post her appearance in Animal, is in the competition with Geeta Aggarwal Sharma (12th Fail), Sanya Malhotra (Sam Bahadur) and Jaya Bachchan and Shabana Azmi (Rocky Aur Rani...).
Rocky Aur Rani... co-stars Dharmendra and Tota Roy Chowdhury have each secured a nomination in the performance in a supporting role (male) segment alongside Gajraj Rao of Satyaprem Ki Katha, Anil Kapoor of Animal and Jaideep Ahlawat of An Action Hero.
The nominees in the performance in the negative role are: Bobby Deol (Animal), John Abraham (Pathaan), Vijay Sethupathi (Jawan), Emraan Hashmi (Tiger 3) and Yami Gautam (OMG 2).
Composer Pritam has received two nominations in music direction for his work on Animal and Rocky Aur Rani...
Vishal Mishra, Manan Bhardwaj, Shreyas Puranik, Jaani, Bhupinder Babbal, Ashim Kemson, and Harshavardhan Rameshwar have also been nominated for Animal, and so have Vishal–Shekhar for Pathaan, Anirudh Ravichander for Jawan, Sachin–Jigar for Zara Hatke Zara Bachke and Shantanu Moitra for 12th Fail.
Singer Arijit Singh too has earned a twin nomination for Animal and Pathaan. Vishal Mishra and Bhupinder Babbal also have a nod each for Animal in the playback singer (male) category, as does Diljit Dosanjh for Dunki.
Shreya Ghoshal and Shilpa Rao have got double nominations in the playback singer (female) category. While Ghoshal has been nominated for Animal and Rocky Aur Rani..., Rao has received the nod for Pathaan and Jawan. Deepthi Suresh is also competing in the segment for Jawan. (PTI)
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.