Starring superstar Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, and John Abraham in lead roles, filmmaker Siddharth Anand’s latest directorial Pathaan (2022) has set the global box office on fire with its collections. Fans are euphoric to see SRK on the silver screen after a long gap of four years.
While millions of fans are busy enjoying the film in cinemas in huge numbers, there are some who are busy comparing Pathaan to a slew of Hollywood franchises such as James Bond, Mission Impossible, Fast and Furious, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Filmmaker Siddharth Anand has finally broken his silence and reacted to those comparing it to Hollywood movies. Terming the comparisons ‘inevitable’ as Pathaan was not a conventional Bollywood film, the filmmaker told Gulf News, “That’s inevitable when you make a film that’s beyond the conventions of Bollywood films. You’re instantly compared to Hollywood, which obviously has better infrastructure, better technology, and huger budgets.”
He further added, “It will always seem like we are trying to imitate that, but our limitations are much more. We also have ambitions, our directors have the ability to mount films, but we are limited by reach because our films are made in one language, which is Hindi. Our revenues are directly proportional to the budgets we can afford.”
Anand continued, “I have to admit, I have not watched more than two MCU films. I am not a fan of that genre. I have seen a couple of them. My son is a huge fan, and he is an Encyclopedia. He briefs me and keeps me up to date. I have to run my scripts and my sequences past him, and he will say, ‘No, dad, this is in that film. No, you can’t do this, this has already been done.’ I am like, ‘What the hell do I do?’ So, I take ideas from him on how to manoeuvre things around. I think I should get on the bandwagon and start watching those films so that there is no overlap.”
Meanwhile, Siddharth Anand is presently busy with his next project Fighter, which stars Hrithik Roshan, Deepika Padukone, and Anil Kapoor in lead roles. The film is due in theatres in 2024.
Keep visiting this space over and again for more updates and reveals from the world of entertainment.
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.