Gurinder Chadha’s Christmas Karma and an untitled English-language feature by Pan Nalin are part of Civic Studios’ slate as the production house continues global expansion from its bases in Mumbai and London.
Founded by Anushka Shah and incubated at the MIT Media Lab, Civic Studios works with the mission of creating content that drives change. The studio boasts a 70% female team.
The highlight of its 2024 slate is Chadha’s Christmas Karma, a reimagining of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. The Christmas musical set in London stars Kunal Nayyar, Eva Longoria, and Boy George in lead roles and is due in cinemas in December.
Nalin’s untitled English-language feature is being developed alongside Monsoon Films.
Ishan Shukla’s animation feature Schirkoa: In Lies We Trust, which premiered at the International Film Festival of Rotterdam 2024, winning the NETPAC award for Best Asian Film, is also part of Civic Studios’ slate. The voice cast includes Golshifteh Farahani and Karan Johar.
Family Aaj Kal, streaming on SonyLIV, is a comedy-drama series starring Apoorva Arora and tackles themes of love and social bias. Little Thomas, on the other hand, is a family feature set in 90s Goa directed by Kaushal Oza. It stars Rasika Dugal and Gulshan Devaiah in lead roles.
Upcoming projects include an untitled Arabic- and English-language feature directed by Fateme Ahmadi and developed with the BFI and BBC Film.
Shor-Gul is a comedic caper directed by Hitesh Kewalya, focusing on a news anchor’s chaotic life.
Chadha said, “I am delighted to be working with Anushka Shah and her lovely team at Civic Studios who have supported me on this project very early on. What a pleasure and honor it’s been for me to work with amazing Indian female producers.”
Nalin added, “From day one, I have been attracted to Civic Studios’ manifesto; entertainment with impact. That has been my quest as a filmmaker, I have repeatedly strived to tell stories that entertain and inspire. So, we are united by this vision and our upcoming endeavour will show our commitments towards engaging and empowering storytelling.”
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He continued, “This upcoming English language feature, is one of the most ambitious projects of my career. It’s going to be an emotionally charged tragi-comedy about man-made boundaries and borders of all kind; political, cultural, religious, social, and so on. Given the state of our world today, there has never been a more appropriate time than today to make this movie. Needless to say, many years of sculpting has already gone into shaping this ambitious project. It is epic. It is explosive. It is a sane story about insanity. It is an insane film about sanity,” Nalin said.
Shah added, “Cinema was such a big influence on me growing up. Later in life working in politics and then as a researcher at MIT really helped imagine bringing citizen power, data-driven media, and social change together. The ethos of Civic Studios, founded at the MIT Media Lab, is to help become aware of social issues and the struggles of those around us, but to also see how we can together move the needle – is there a way to light a candle rather than sit through the darkness?”
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.