Voot Select Film Fest was announced a few weeks ago, and one of the films that is a part of the festival is Hina Khan starrer Lines. The film started streaming on the digital platform on Thursday (29).
The movie is co-produced by Hina and Rocky Jaiswal under their banner HiRo’s Faar Better Films. We recently interacted with Rocky and spoke to him about the movie, Hina’s casting, and a lot more.
When we asked him if he is excited or nervous about Lines releasing on Voot, Rocky said, “Me and the whole team, everybody is very excited because it’s our first project as a co-production venture and we have really fond memories with it. We have found the right platform because in these times that’s the biggest problem. The biggest hurdle is to get the right platform. We did not want it to be commercialised because it’s a very sensitive film, and it’s coming like a festival, so that is the best thing we could have thought of. We are really excited about it.”
Rocky revealed that when they had planned the movie, they wanted a theatrical release for it. He said, “When we planned the film, we shot it, and we launched it in Cannes; we thought we would definitely release it (in theatres). But, pandemic changed everything, so we thought let’s go ahead with whatever the best option is to reach out the audiences.”
HiRo’s Faar Better Films has earlier produced a movie titled Wishlist which also featured Hina. So, we asked Rocky that whenever they produce a film will Hina be the first choice for it, to which, he said, “Predominantly that’s the case because Hina is the co-founder so that makes it much more accessible for me to go to her and say ‘this is the script, why don’t you do it?’. But, of course, she has to like the script it’s not that HiRo’s is producing it so Hina will end up doing the lead role. But since we started and Hina was very encouraging, so she said okay to the character (in Lines), and she also liked it.”
“She liked Lines because it’s a very different story even for a person who has been brought up in Srinagar. Even she didn’t know about the background set up that happens around the border. But yes, there will be a few more projects where you will see Hina in HiRo’s productions, not all though,” Rocky added.
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.