Sequels have become a trend in Bollywood. Even if there’s no scope of taking the story forward, filmmakers try to cash on the franchise factor and make the part 2 and sometimes even part 3. While some of the sequels get a good response at the box office due to the franchise factor, the script surely fails to impress.
Today, we are going to look at the list of Bollywood sequels that failed to live up to the expectations.
Once Upon ay Time in Mumbai Dobaara!
Ajay Devgn, Emraan Hashmi, Kangana Ranaut, and Prachi Desai starrer Once Upon a Time in Mumbai was a fantastic film. The movie spoke about the underworld and impressed the audiences. The makers decided to make a sequel to it, where Emraan Hashmi’s character gets an older version in Akshay Kumar. But, the sequel failed to make a mark at the box office.
Welcome Back
2007 release Welcome was a laugh riot, from the first scene itself we were laughing out loud. But that didn’t happen in the sequel. Welcome Back was mounted on a huge scale but unfortunately, the makers didn’t concentrate on the script. Also, John Abraham couldn’t be funny like Akshay Kumar.
Kahaani 2
We are not saying that Vidya Balan starrer Kahaani 2 was not a good film. It was an amazing film and spoke about a very important issue like child abuse. However, as it was titled Kahaani 2, people expected that the sequel will be a suspense-thriller just like the first part. But, unfortunately, that suspense element was missing in it and that’s why audiences didn’t like it much.
Happy Phirr Bhag Jayegi
Mudassar Aziz’s Happy Bhag Jayegi starring Diana Penty, Jimmy Sheirgill, Ali Fazal, and Abhay Deol was a hilarious film. The makers decided to make it a franchise and got Sonakshi Sinha in the sequel. While they upped their game by making the production value better, but script-wise the sequel was strictly average.
Love Aaj Kal 2
Imtiaz Ali made a film titled Love Aaj Kal in 2009 and then in 2020, he made the film once again with the same title and the same concept about how love is different in two eras. The sequel bombed at the box office and it is clearly one of the worst films of 2020.
Race 2 & Race 3
Abbas-Mustan’s Race starring Saif Ali Khan, Akshaye Khanna, Bipasha Basu. Katrina Kaif and Anil Kapoor was an amazing suspense thriller. They decided to make Race 2 but it was quite predictable, and even Saif agreed that the sequel wasn’t as good as the first part. But then, the worst thing happened that producer Ramesh Taurani decided to take the franchise forward with Salman Khan and made Race 3. It was a bad film.
Rock On 2
Last but not the least; we have Rock On 2 on the list. The first instalment was a fantastic film and even the songs of the film are still remembered. However, the sequel, Rock On 2, failed to get good reviews and was a disaster at the box office.
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.