Producer Prerna Arora, who is backing a biopic on Olympic gold medallist shooter Abhinav Bindra, says it is a difficult project as the makers have to be cautious while presenting the story in an honest way.
It is the first time Prerna is working on a sports biopic, and she believes a lot of responsibility comes with such films.
"With this project we have to be accurate, we can't afford to make mistakes with the content. The scripting is still on. It is in development stage. It will go on floors either December or early next year," Prerna said.
Recently, the biopic on flight attendant Neerja Bhanot was embroiled in a controversy after her family locked in a battle with the producers of the film Neerja over its box-office profits.
Earlier, legendary sportsman Milkha Singh had accused director and co-producer Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra of not fulfilling his commitment of sharing the profit of his biopic Bhaag Milkha Bhaag.
However, Prerna says she will make sure her film does not face such issues.
"Today, taking the rights of the person for a film, on whom it is based, has become essential. We have to respect this collaboration. We will be making sure that nothing goes wrong.
"We want to give credit to every person who is attached to the film personally as well as professionally."
Prerna says Bindra is helping makers in understanding and bringing his life story alive to the big screen.
Prerna, who spearheads Kriarj Entertainment Pvt Ltd, made her debut in Bollywood as a producer with Akshay Kumar in Rustom.
She has three films lined-up, including John Abraham's Parmanu, Anushka Sharma's Pari and Akshay Kumar's Padman.
Prerna is also set to back Sara Ali Khan's debut film Kedarnath, which also features Sushant Singh Rajput and Vishal Bhardwaj's next starring Deepika Padukone and Irrfan Khan.
Her latest released Toilet: Ek Prem Katha stars Akshay Kumar and Bhumi Pednekar.
"The biggest challenge in such films (of social cause) is reaching out to a wider audience and trying to understand how many people are taking the film and the subject seriously.
"Also, promoting the film in the right manner possible plays a major role and making sure it (film) passes the right message.
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.