Known for helming London, Paris, New York (2012) and Waiting (2015), filmmaker Anu Menon is presently awaiting the release of her next directorial offering Shakuntala Devi, a biopic based on the life of renowned mathematician Shakuntala Devi, also known as the Human Computer. While the National Film Award-winning actress Vidya Balan essays the title role, Sanya Malhotra plays her daughter.
The trailer of the much-awaited biographical drama hit the internet a couple of days ago and amassed millions of digital views in no time. Before the makers dropped the trailer, many people had this thought in mind that the film will be quite serious in tone.
Menon says that her film, just like the personality it is based on, defies the stereotype that mathematicians are serious. "If there was any mathematician who could be a Bollywood heroine, it is Shakuntala Devi. We like to put people in a box and if something is shown to them which is outside of that box, they get confused because in their heads, mathematicians are serious,” she tells a newswire.
Menon says that Shakuntala Devi was in complete contrast to another famous Indian mathematician, Srinivasa Ramanujan. "Shakuntala Devi was the opposite of Ramanujan. She has been performing on stage from the age of five. For her, her mathematics was drama. She wore her heart on her sleeves, so everything was so dramatic. So, the line in the trailer, 'we Indians are like that only, drama or nothing' is there for a reason. We have not tried making it look like a Bollywood film,” she says.
The director goes on to add that Shakuntala Devi aligns with her attempt to chronicle women on screen who are not “one-note”. “I feel it is important to have some positive reinforcements on-screen. I have always been passionate about how to show women on the screen."
Menon reveals that she decided to make a film on Shakuntala Devi after she heard her nine-year-old daughter say that girls like English while boys gravitate towards mathematics. "That's when I thought to make a story on Shakuntala Devi and found Anupama Banerjee, her daughter, who also lives in London. We met for coffee and the meeting lasted for six hours. This was in 2016 and her mother had passed away in 2013."
Menon returned from the meeting with a fresh perspective about the wizard and an insight into her fractured relationship with her daughter. “I found this daughter who was grappling with this big void in her life. Imagine having this larger-than-life mother, with whom you've had a tumultuous relationship... I felt this is a perspective we need to take. This is what made her human,” Menon says.
"We brought mathematics and motherhood together and that's the narrative to see. It's unflinching because I can't put people on pedestals even in real life. Most biopics are puff pieces because of the kind of freedom you get. But her daughter was ready to go into that space. The film is about this genius who embraced the good and the bad and lived life unapologetically," she adds.
Shakuntala Devi is scheduled for its premiere on 31st July on Amazon Prime Video.
A scene from The Thursday Murder Club, where four retirees turn amateur detectives in a quiet British village shaken by a real murderInstagram/NetflixUK
Stills from Andaz Apna Apna
Stills from Andaz Apna Apna
Vinay Kumar Sinha
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.