LOS ANGELES-based Indian producer Apoorva Charan is thrilled about her critically-acclaimed debut feature film Joyland coming out in the UK this week and is looking forward to its India release next month.
Charan, born in Hyderabad, was drawn to the very simple characters of the film set within a South Asian milieu that had a universal resonance.
For someone with scores of short film credits under her belt, Joyland, which was Pakistan's official entry for the 95th academy awards, propelled her into setting up her production company “all caps” – with a mission to produce refreshing and unique narratives for a global audience.
“The journey has been like building bricks, building one thing on top of the other,” said Charan, ahead of the film’s UK release on Friday (25).
Joyland, directed by Saim Sadiq, has had quite a journey in the international film festival circuit. The feature was selected for the Cannes Film Festival in May last year and went on to win the prestigious Un Certain Regard jury prize.
“Cannes was so wonderful. It was a blind submission, as we literally just sent the film. Of course, we were hoping and dreaming, but when it was selected it gave us a really strong launching platform,” she said.
Joyland Poster
Joyland made history in more ways than one — not only as the first film by a Pakistani director to win at Cannes, but Aleena Khan as the first transgender actor from Pakistan to play a lead role in a feature film and also walk the film festival red carpet.
Actors Sania Saeed, Ali Junejo, Rasti Faruq, Salman Pirzada and Sohail Samir round out the cast.
“We're a small independently made film, but our team has been our strength. We had 40 people from the team at Cannes and it was quite impossible for anyone to ignore the strength and energy of the film. I think it really made people pay attention and that I think has helped us through the journey,” said Charan.
Over a six-year period of working with writer-director Sadiq since he first shared the concept of the film centred around a traditional Pakistani family, Joyland has also had its fair share of ups and downs. It was banned in Pakistan but then eventually the ban was revoked for it to be released in the country where it is set.
“The good thing was that the Pakistani team did so much work to get the ban lifted within six days. That was historic. I think Joyland is also the first film to have a ban revoked in Pakistan so quickly.
"We are grateful that once people started watching the movie, they realised that there wasn't actually anything that controversial, because we're not talking about religion. It became obvious that this movie is much more harmless than it seemed,” said the producer.
The story is set in Lahore, where the Ranas – a happily patriarchal joint family – yearn for the birth of a baby boy to continue the family line. When their youngest son secretly joins an erotic dance theatre and falls for an ambitious trans starlet, it unleashes a variety of revelations that would have long-lasting impact.
“I think what the characters want is so simple and so easy to relate to. Who doesn't want to find love? Who doesn't want to have a job that helps kind of validate their role in society? These wants and needs are just so universal,” said Charan, who is looking forward to the Indian audiences’ reaction to the film when it is releases in the country on March 10.
Meanwhile, she is already deep into her next project with a first-time feature film director set in Brazil and has plans for her “all caps” production company to keep showcasing underrepresented stories.
“I think my vision as a producer is always going to be to bring fresh narratives with a global perspective that engage and move audiences. I think that's the only goal, to just tell good stories,” added Charan.
Joyland is produced by Charan, Sarmad Sultan Khoosat, and Lauren Mann. Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai is one of the executive producers.
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.