As great content continues to find audiences everywhere, we list down some of the most promising faces and their work one should look forward to in 2022.
From The White Tiger’s breakout star Adarsh Gourav to immensely talented Wamiqa Gabbi, all these emerging stars have added some high-profile projects to their line-up that has gotten the audience extremely excited. Read on…
Adarsh Gourav
Whosoever watched Netflix’s The White Tiger last year could not stop raving about Adarsh Gourav. His portrayal of Balram in the film won him raves from across the board. The BAFTA nominee actor has landed several exciting projects ever since. He will soon be seen in Scott Z. Burns’ anthology film Extrapolations wherein he shares the screen space with the likes of Meryl Streep, Sienna Miller, and Kit Harrington.
On the home-front, Adarsh Gourav has signed Excel Entertainment's and Tiger Baby's Kho Gaye Hum Kahan on the dotted line. The film also stars Siddhant Chaturvedi and Ananya Panday in important roles. Two completely different characters will once again give us a chance to witness his acting skills.
Siddhant Chaturvedi
Siddhant Chaturvedi, who was last seen in Yash Raj Films’ Bunty Aur Babli 2 (2021), is presently gearing up for the premiere of his much-awaited film Gehraiyaan. Directed by Shakun Batra and produced by Karan Johar, the modern relationship drama also stars Deepika Padukone and Ananya Panday in prominent characters.
The actor will follow Gehraiyaan with Excel Entertainment’s Phone Bhoot, Yudhra, and Kho Gaye Hum Kahan. Phone Bhoot, a horror-comedy, also features Ishaan Khatter and Katrina Kaif. Yudhra, a romantic action thriller, sees him opposite Malavika Mohanan.
Kho Gaye Hum Kahan, also starring Ananya Panday and Adarsh Gourav, will give us a digital age story of three friends in Mumbai and one would expect all the nuances of coolness to fill the screens as is always the case with Excel Entertainment and Tiger Baby.
Wamiqa Gabbi
Wamiqa Gabbi, who made her debut with Grahan (2021), has been signed on to star in several plum projects. She will be seen in Vishal Bhardwaj’s Khufiya in a lead role opposite Ali Fazal and Tabu. Later this year, she will be seen in Netflix's originals Mai with Sakshi Tanwar and in Vikramaditya Motwane's period drama show Stardust. The actress has a plate full of meaty projects and wishes her all the best for a successful year ahead.
Rohit Saraf
Rohit Saraf can melt the hardest of hearts with his infectious smile and charming looks. The young actor has landed a key role in the remake of the much-awaited Bollywood film Vikram Vedha, where he plays superstar Hrithik Roshan's younger brother. The film, directed by Gayathri and Pushkar, also stars Saif Ali Khan and Radhika Apte. On the streaming front, Saraf will be seen in the second season of Mismatched.
Sanya Malhotra
Riding high on the success of her last film Meenakshi Sundareshwar (2021), Sanya Malhotra next stars in Hit: The First Case. The official remake of the Telugu-language mystery action-thriller, the upcoming film also stars Rajkumar Rao in the lead role. The actress also has Love Hostel opposite Vikrant Massey in her kitty. A crime thriller, Love Hostel will be an opportunity to see Sanya in an all-new light.
Alaya F
Alaya F, who made her acting debut with Jawaani Jaaneman (2020), will next be seen opposite Kartik Aaryan in Balaji Motion Pictures’ Freddy. Not only Freddy, but she has also bagged Ekta Kapoor's U-Turn where she plays a journalist. The film is the official remake of the 2018 Kannada thriller.
Anchal Singh
After exploring regional cinema successfully, Anchal Singh is all geared up for her Bollywood debut. Last year, she was seen playing the bride in Undekhi, an original web series streaming on SonyLiv where she was noticed by the audience and critics making her one of the prominent faces to look for in 2022. Her soon-to-release web show Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein on Netflix will see her in a very different avatar raising the bar of her talent. She will be seen in Undekhi 2 this year.
Keep visiting this space over and again for more updates and reveals from the world of entertainment.
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.