Headlined by Prabhas and Kriti Sanon, Adipurush is one of the eagerly awaited films of 2023. The Om Raut directorial was earlier slated to enter cinemas on January 12, 2023. However, following a severe backlash over poor VFX and the amateurish looks of lead characters in the teaser, the makers decided to postpone the film to June 16, 2023, and rework CGI and VFX.
According to some reports doing the rounds, the modification process will cost an additional £10 million to the producers of the film. If these reports are indeed true, this would make Adipurush the most expensive film ever made in India.
Earlier, Adipurush was said to be made on a whopping budget of £45 million. If we add the additional cost of reworking to the primary budget, the overall budget of the film goes up to a jaw-dropping £55 million.
And this is more than what Rajinikanth and Akshay Kumar’s 2.0 (2018) and Jr NTR and Ram Charan’s RRR (2022) incurred during their making. For the time being, Adipurush could be termed the most expensive Indian film. By the time the film is ready for its theatrical release, its budget will easily soar beyond £55 million as millions will be spent on its promotions to make sure the film reaches as many people as possible.
In addition to Prabhas and Kriti Sanon, Adipurush also features Saif Ali Khan, Sunny Singh, and Devdatta Nage on the primary cast. The film is a modern adaptation of the Hindu epic Ramayana, in which Prabhas portrays Lord Rama, Kriti Sanon plays Sita, and Saif Ali Khan will be seen as Lankesh Ravan.
Adipurush is due on 16th June 2023 in five Indian languages, including Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam.
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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.