Last seen in Bollywood film The Sky Is Pink (2019), Priyanka Chopra Jonas has added yet another exciting project to her repertoire. After months of speculations, it has finally been confirmed that the Quantic star will topline Amazon Studios’ biopic on Ma Anand Sheela, a spiritual adviser and former spokeswoman of the Rajneesh movement and also the primary perpetrator of the 1984 Rajneesh bioterror attack in Wasco County, Oregon.
Titled Sheela, the forthcoming project will be written by Nick Yarborough, while Barry Levinson has come onboard to call the shots. Apart from playing the titular role, Chopra will also co-produce the biopic along with Levinson’s Baltimore Pictures. Other producers on the project include Jason Sosnoff and David Permut of Permut Presentations.
Sheela was officially announced last year by Priyanka Chopra Jonas, but soon after the announcement, the movie found itself in hot water when Ma Anand Sheela sent the former Miss World a legal notice for attempting to make a film on her life without taking her permission.
Interestingly, Amazon Studios’ Sheela is not the only biopic on Ma Anand Sheela in the works. According to reports, acclaimed Bollywood producer Karan Johar’s Dharmatic Entertainment and streaming media giant Netflix have also joined forces to produce a documentary on Sheela, which will be directed by Shirley Abraham and Amit Madheshiya with Shakun Batra as the showrunner and executive producer. An official announcement is awaited though.
Meanwhile, Priyanka Chopra Jonas is currently doing a mysterious role in the much-awaited Hollywood film The Matrix 4. She also stars in the lead role in writer-director Robert Rodriguez's superhero movie for Netflix called We Can Be Heroes. Filming of the movie is taking place in Texas. The actress also headlined an adaptation of Aravind Adiga's satirical novel The White Tiger for Netflix.
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.