THE Bollywood biopic of Murlikant Petkar recently released in cinemas and will be available on a streaming site in the months ahead.
The story revolves around a determined young man, who dreams of winning an Olympic gold medal for India. After joining the army, he shows immense promise as a boxer, but his life is turned upside after he gets a life-changing injury, while fighting in the 1965 war. After that, he battles against the odds to go on a path-breaking journey towards glory.
The untold story of India’s first Paralympian gold medallist is very much powered by the performance of lead star Kartik Aaryan.
He pours everything into portraying a young man, who goes through challenges and a transformative journey towards the seemingly impossible. The actor delivers a career best performance as he transforms himself physically, visually and emotionally for different chapters of Petkar’s incredible life. Whilst his impressive presence and the relatively swift pace keep you engaged, the fractured screenplay, and relatively poor storytelling turns Chandu Champion into more a docu-drama than a rousing sports biopic that rolls around towards an uplifting finale.
Director Kabir Khan follows up his cricket film 83’ with another sports movie but is unable to inject that much needed extra spark or excitement in the storyline.
What the director lacks in storytelling is made up for by performances, realistic settings and the extraordinary nature of this true-life tale. Vijay Raaz in particular shines in his role and there is a particularly great war scene that is shot in one take. Thankfully, cheesy Bollywood musical numbers don’t overpower this film.
While this true life tale should have been brought to the big screen earlier, that journey from a village to the swimming pool at the 1972 Paralympic Games, via boxing and the harsh realities of war deserved a smoother navigation.
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.