Over the last few months, the industry has been excited and waiting with much anticipation for the newest entrant in the filmed content and entertainment business, AVS Studios to unveil its slate.
Founded by former Netflix executive Abhishek Vyas, AVS Studios has been set up with a vision to harness the massive growth in Indian content consumption and disrupt the market with its breakthrough storytelling backed by world-class larger-than-life production values and scale.
In Phase 1, AVS Studios shall be producing 6 films across languages and genres and has collaborated with some of the best directorial and acting talent in the country. The movies shall have widespread theatrical release followed by Digital and Television exploitation. The movies have already attracted huge interest from leading streaming platforms and Satellite Television broadcasters and an announcement on the said partnerships will be made shortly.
The first film rolling out from the AVS Studios stable is “Vrushabha”, a magnum opus spread across lifetimes. High on emotions, the film revolves around the conflict between 2 emotions that run the world – Love vs Revenge. Shot in Malayalam and Telugu, the multilingual film will also be dubbed in Tamil, Kannada, and Hindi. The film is a high-octane father-son drama, with megastar Mohanlal essaying the role of the Father. A big Telugu star is likely to play the part of the son and the same will be announced over the next couple of months.
Said Abhishek Vyas, Founder, AVS Studios, “In an industry which is focused on drawing up film projects on excel sheets, AVS Studios is here primarily to back the best of scripts and writing talent. I am excited to work with the one and only megastar Mohanlal, an actor whom I have always admired! We have a solid script in place and are confident that we’ll give the audience a truly entertaining experience with Vrushabha”
Said megastar Mohanlal, “The moment I heard the script, I was hooked onto the idea of Vrushabha. It’s a riveting father-son high-energy drama that spans across lifetimes. I am impressed with Nanda Kishore’s vision and delighted to partner with AVS Studios on this first film together.”
Said Director Nanda Kishore, "At the heart of every good film are characters which connect with you and stay with you for years after ever you have seen the film. I have been writing VRUSHABHA for the last 5 years. It’s a dream come true to work with Mohanlal Sir and I am excited to take the movie to the floors"
Vrushabha is an AVS Studios Presentation in association with Shyam Sunder’s First Step Movies. Directed by Nanda Kishore and Produced by Abhishek Vyas, Praveer Singh, and Shyam Sunder, the film is scheduled to go on floors in May 2023 and is expected to release in early 2024 in over 3000 cinemas worldwide.
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.