LEGEND ON STAGE
A BEAUTIFUL moment in Chennai is well worth seeking out online. Legendary actress Vyjayanthimala delivered a unique performance alongside Girijashankar Sundaresan, where the Carnatic vocalist sang while the seated 91-year-old expressed the music through classical Indian dance movements.
Sundaresan described the experience as magical and something he would cherish forever. The cinema icon has credited dance for keeping her healthy and continues to perform regularly, even in her 90s.
YOHANI IN UK
SRI LANKAN music star Yohani will finally make her UK concert debut with performances at Athena in Leicester on Saturday (15) and The Harley Lounge in central London next Friday (21).
The singer-songwriter became a global sensation in 2021 after her song Manike Mage Hithe went viral. Since then, she has performed internationally, sung for Bollywood films, and become one of Sri Lanka’s most popular celebrities on social media.
SORDID KISSING SPREE
SINGER Udit Narayan has been scrambling for damage control after a video of him kissing female fans during selfies went viral.
Udit Narayan
One clip appeared to show him forcibly kissing a woman on the lips, sparking widespread backlash.
The 69-year-old’s weak explanations and denials only made matters worse, leading to old videos resurfacing online where he once again came across as inappropriate.
The incident serves as yet another reminder that in today’s social media-driven world, there is no hiding place for celebrities if they are accused of wrongdoing.
Anoushka Shankar
ANOUSHKA LOSES OUT
ANOUSHKA SHANKAR edged closer to the record for most Grammy nominations without a win after failing to secure an award at the recent ceremony.
Artists with more nominations than her 11 without a win include Katy Perry (13), Brian McKnight (16), Snoop Dogg (17), and Indian conductor Zubin Mehta (18).
However, it wasn’t all disappointment for the sitar maestro’s family, as her half-sister Norah Jones won an impressive 10th Grammy.
Meanwhile, Anoushka will be hoping to break her streak before reaching mastering engineer Chris Gehringer’s record of 21 Grammy nominations without a win.
BIG DEVA DISASTER
BEFORE the recent Bollywood film Deva was released in cinemas, I predicted it would be a major failure – and I was proven right. Despite being a remake of the hit 2013 Malayalam film Mumbai Police, the Shahid Kapoor starrer was rejected by audiences and recorded low box office figures. Once again, this highlights how Hindi cinema needs to focus on original content instead of repeatedly producing substandard remakes.
PENN AVOIDS TABOO
KAL PENN covered a wide range of topics during his recent visit to the Jaipur Literature Festival, where he discussed his memoir, You Can’t Be Serious.
He spoke about his love for Bollywood, experiences as an immigrant, battles with bullying, and the influence of aunty culture.
He also shared how he used a popular Indian drama serial to improve his Hindi.
One subject he noticeably avoided was his sexuality and his decision to come out as gay in 2021. This would have been particularly relevant given that all high-profile gay stars in India remain unable to come out – and likely never will – in such a conservative society.
Kal Penn
BIG GERALDINE MOVIE MYSTERY
THE internet is ablaze with Marvel fans eagerly speculating about which superhero Geraldine Viswanathan will play in the highly anticipated Hollywood film Thunderbolts.
So far, the only confirmed detail ahead of the megabudget entertainer’s release later this year is that she will portray Mel, an assistant to Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. Thunderbolts follows a group of anti-heroes and villains who turn into the good guys. There is widespread speculation that the Australian actress could be playing Melissa Gold, who is also Songbird, a supervillain with supersonic sound abilities.
Meanwhile, Geraldine has added to her impressive body of work with the romantic comedy You’re Cordially Invited, which recently premiered on Amazon Prime.
Geraldine Viswanathan
NEPO KIDS DUMPED ON STREAMING SITE
IN THE past, when children of famous Bollywood celebrities were launched, it was accompanied by great fanfare and a major cinema release. Now, with audience interest waning, films with star kids are increasingly being sent straight to streaming platforms, as producers recognise their limited box office appeal.
The latest to receive a lessthan-impressive launch is Saif Ali Khan and Amrita Singh’s son, Ibrahim Ali Khan. His debut film, Nadaaniyan, opposite Sridevi’s daughter Khushi Kapoor, will be released on Netflix.
This is yet another example of how nepotism has harmed Hindi cinema and why the industry urgently needs fresh talent from outside these privileged circles.
Ibrahim Ali Khan and Khushi Kapoor
INDIA MUSIC INVASION
THE changing cultural landscape of India has been reflected in the growing success of Hollywood films in recent years. A similar shift in the music scene has been evident with global stars like Coldplay and Ed Sheeran playing sold-out stadium gigs in the country over the past month.
While the increasing influence of international films and pop acts is great for audiences, it poses a challenge for local talent. Indian filmmakers and musicians will now have to step up their game if they want to compete with this international wave sweeping through India.
Chris Martin
BAD PARENTAL ADVICE
NEWCOMER Rasha Thadani has been badly let down by her hugely influential parents. It was obvious that her debut film, Azaad, would be a major box-office disaster – even those with little knowledge of Hindi cinema could have predicted its fate.
Yet, her actress mother, Raveena Tandon, and her powerful film distributor father, Anil Thadani, did not prevent her from taking such a disastrous first career step.
Rasha is clearly talented and good-looking, making it all the more surprising that her experienced parents did not guide her towards a better project. With her first film turning out to be such a spectacular failure, it will now be difficult for her to move forward – and her parents must share some of that blame.
Rasha Thadani
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.