Most recently seen in Red Chillies Entertainment’s web-series Bard of Blood (2019), which premiered on Netflix, Bollywood star Emraan Hashmi has a number of projects on his plate. He is currently shooting for filmmaker Sanjay Gupta’s next directorial Mumbai Saga with John Abraham and Kajal Agarwal. He has also wrapped up his much-awaited film, Chehre, with megastar Amitabh Bachchan.
Before starting work on the aforementioned projects, Emraan Hashmi had shot for a suspense thriller titled The Body. Directed by well-known Malayalam filmmaker Jeethu Joseph, the movie is inspired by the blockbuster Spanish thriller El Cuerpo (2012). It revolves around a police officer who is searching for a dead body gone missing from a morgue. Besides Emraan Hashmi, the mystery thriller also features Rishi Kapoor, Sobhita Dhulipala and Vedhika on its star cast.
Today, the makers announced the official release date of the film. The Body will be entering theatres on 13th December, 2019. Apart from announcing the release date, the makers also unveiled the official poster of the film wherein blood can be seen spilling on a floor from a wine glass. "This December, join the search to find The Body. Unravel the mystery on Friday the 13th," Emraan wrote on Instagram.
Apparently, the makers were earlier planning to release the film in June. However, the project had to be postponed as director Jeethu Joseph was busy with his other directorial commitments down South. Emraan was also shooting for Chehre with Amitabh Bachchan, and Rishi Kapoor, who plays an investigative officer in the film, was in New York for treatment, so it was not possible for all to take out time for its promotion in June.
The Body is produced by Azure Entertainment and Viacom18 Motion Pictures.
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.