Last seen in Bunty Aur Babli 2 (2021), Bollywood star Rani Mukerji is presently busy promoting her upcoming film Mrs Chatterjee Vs Norway, directed by Ashima Chibber.
Talking about her preparation, the actress said that she drew inspiration from her mother for her role in the film, which tells the story of a mother's battle against an entire country. The film is based on the true story of NRI couple Sagarika Bhattacharya and Anurup Bhattacharya that rocked children and human rights at an international level.
Rani said while she has not yet met Sagarika, her interpretation of the character is based on her mother Krishna Mukherjee.
"As an actor, I wanted to being my interpretation to the character. I didn't want too much of baggage and had people find similarities between my role and the real person. Ashima had many tapes recorded of Sagarika, and I saw those for some references, but the rest of the character is actually based on my mum. She's the most Bengali person I know... Be it feeding us with her hands, putting a tikka on us... I drew strength and inspiration from my mother," Rani said at a promotional event for the movie.
The actor and producer Nikkhil Advani were in conversation with filmmaker Karan Johar. Rani said Nikkhil approached him with a one-line script and didn't give her a chance to say "no".
"I told Nikkhil that he won't be able to deal with my tantrums. But Nikkhil agreed to all my conditions and didn't give me any chance to say ‘no' to the film," she added.
Praising her director Ashima, the 44-year-old actor said the filmmaker was passionate about the subject and researched it well. "When I spoke to Ashima, I realised that she was very passionate about the story because she had spoken to Sagarika and she was very involved with the subject. That love translates into the film," she said.
Mrs Chatterjee Vs Norway is produced by Monisha Advani, Madhu Bhojwani, and Nikkhil Advani of Emmay Entertainment and Zee Studios. Nikkhil said for him it was important to highlight stories of Indians based abroad.
Mrs Chatterjee Vs Norway is scheduled to be released in theatres on March 17, 2023.
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.