Gurmeet Choudhury and Debina Bonnerjee, who first collaborated on Sagar Arts’ mythological show Ramayan in 2008, are set to reteam after a huge gap of 11 years. The real-life couple has come together to headline filmmaker Ram Kamal Mukherjee’s upcoming Hindi venture titled Shubho Bijoya.
“We have been planning to work together since we met in London during my promotion of Cakewalk (2019), while Gurmeet was there to promote Paltan,” recalls director Ram Kamal Mukherjee.
Gurmeet Choudhury shares that he jumped at the idea the moment Mukherjee narrated the story of the short film to him. Shubho Bijoya revolves around a fashion photographer Shubho who loses his eyesight and, at the same time, his supermodel wife Bijoya is diagnosed with cancer.
“I totally jumped at the idea, when Ram Kamal narrated me the story. I have seen Cakewalk and felt that he handled the emotion very well,” says Gurmeet who is psyched up about sharing the screen space with wife Debina for the first time after the two got married. They will be seen playing a Bengali couple for the first time ever.
“We have been getting offer since Ramayan days. We have said no to films, webseries and short films. We wanted to do a film that would excite us as an actor,” says Debina Bonnerjee who is currently seen on Colors’ supernatural show Vish.
Talking further about his forthcoming venture, director Ram Kamal Mukherjee says, “This story is inspired by O Henry’s The Gift of Magi, which has been my favourite short story since my school days. But we have incorporated a real-life incident which makes brings in a completely different aspect to the story.”
Bankrolled by Aritra Das, Bilquis Kapadia and Gaurav Daga, Shubho Bijoya will be shot in Mumbai before Christmas.
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.