Veteran Bollywood actor and Padma Bhushan awardee Anupam Kher, on Monday, spoke about the boycott trends on social media and targeted Aamir Khan starrer 'Lal Singh Chaddha' by stating good movies find ways to work.
Speaking to ANI, Kher said that boycott trends can't affect a movie if it is being loved by the people. "Talks are going on about the boycott trend. On Twitter and social media, there are regular such trends. Suddenly why give so much importance to one movie? Why can't you directly say that people didn't like your movie? This is not the first time that a film has failed. I am not ready to accept that a trend can affect a movie".
On being asked if he is planning to watch 'Lal Singh Chaddha', the actor replied, "I don't feel like watching right now, not because of anything else. I will watch it when I feel like it, but I would like to ask if Aamir Khan has watched 'The Kashmir Files'".
During a press conference in Shimla, Kher said that he feels "every day many trends are there. But the trend that you're talking about, I don't think it's possible for a film to not do good because it's being boycotted."
He continued, "A few years back, people wanted to have some controversy regarding their movies, so their movie runs. Being a representative of the industry I would say that good films find their way. I feel if we are talking about the movie 'Lal Singh Chaddha', if the film is good, then a boycott wouldn't have made a difference".
"There could be a possibility that people didn't like the movie. Word of mouth is very important. Maybe 5 per cent of people have boycotted the movie based on the statement that was made earlier, but if 95 per cent of people have gone to see and after seeing the movie they must have asked people to see the movie if it would've been a good movie," Kher further stated.
"Everyone has the freedom to express themselves. You can't say who are these people. They must have felt that. There were so many negative things that were being said about me. No one came and defended me. It's not that I don't want to defend anyone, but if you talk about freedom of expression then you've to fight the same way," he told.
Further talking about the boycott trend, Kher pointed toward Aamir Khan's 2015 statement about intolerance and how at the time it did not affect the box office success of films like 'Dangal' and 'PK'.
Referring to Aamir's statement, Kher said, "Maybe people thought he should've said that. Despite that, I feel no other country is as tolerant as India. So, sometimes as a responsible person, you've to be careful of what you say as millions of people are following you. so, if you make a careless statement about the country then it can sometimes boomerang."
"I also would like to say that I respect Aamir Khan as an actor and as a human being. Maybe it was not a good film, why can't you accept it? I haven't seen the film. There are so many good films of mine that didn't work. I feel I have put a lot of effort into 'The Accidental Prime Minister', but it didn't work. So many trends were going on daily during my movie 'The Kashmir Files' but it did work. We didn't blame anyone", he added.
(ANI)
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.