Shahid Kapoor’s next with hit filmmaker Ali Abbas Zafar has been creating a lot of buzz even before it was officially announced. Fans are quite excited about Kapoor’s maiden collaboration with the director of such blockbusters as Sultan (2016), Tiger Zinda Hai (2017), and Bharat (2019) and are waiting for the film with bated breath.
Now, Shahid Kapoor has confirmed that the action film with Zafar is complete and they are hoping to release it sometime this year.
Presented by Jio Studios in association with Zafar's AAZ Films, Offside Entertainment, and The Vermillion World, the film is billed as a “stylised relentless action-packed ride”.
Talking about the yet-untitled project, Shahid said the film is a departure from the “typical” action movies. “Ali’s film is ready. It is a kind of action that I have not done before. It is new for me and him. It is an edgy action, not like the typical one, it has a quirk to it,” the actor, who has previously starred in action films such as Kaminey (2009) and R... Rajkumar (2013), said.
“It (doing action) is very tiring and I have lost a lot of weight. I had a great time working on it. Ali and I have known each other for a decade and we decided to collaborate on this. It will come out this year,” Kapoor told PTI.
Apart from Zafar’s film, the 41-year-old actor is set to make his OTT debut with a Prime Video series from The Family Man creators Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK. The show is an interesting and exciting project, he said, calling it a “quirky crime drama”.
Last year, Kapoor was also signed to play a paratrooper in an action film titled Bull, inspired by events from the life of Brigadier Bulsara. Set in the 1980s, the film marks the directorial debut of Aditya Nimbalkar, who has worked extensively with filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj. The actor said the logistical details on Bull are still being worked out.
“Bull is still later in the future. It might not happen immediately. It's just a few logistical things that need to be worked out. It is not on agenda right now,” he added.
Kapoor is currently awaiting the release of Jersey, a Hindi remake of the National Award-winning Telugu sports drama of the same name.
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.