Starring Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh, Bobby Deol, Kriti Sanon, Kriti Kharbanda and Pooja Hegde in prominent roles, the much-awaited Bollywood biggie Housefull 4 is off to a decent start at the domestic box-office. The movie, which hit the marquee on 25th October, minted Rs. 19.08 crores on the day of its release.
Helmed by Farhad Samji and produced by Sajid Nadiadwala under the banner of Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment, the comic-caper opened to mixed response from critics. However, the audience gave a thumps up to the film, which resulted in a decent opening of Rs. 19.08 crores at the cash counter.
A trade website reports that the opening day collection of the film is slightly lower than expected, attributing it to the pre-Diwali festivities. "The film did slow in the evening due to pre-Diwali but still is the second highest opening ever for a comedy film and the highest opening for the Housefull franchise despite pre-Diwali,” says the report.
As the title suggests itself, Housefull 4 is the fourth instalment of the highly successful comedy film franchise Housefull, produced by Sajid Nadiadwala. The first instalment of the series made its entry into theatres in 2010 and raked in a little over Rs. 9 crores on the opening day.
The second part of the series, Housefull 2, hit the silver screen in 2012 and recorded an opening of Rs. 12 crores at the box-office. And Housefull 3, which arrived in cinemas in 2016, garnered Rs. 15 crores on the day of its release.
"The gains each instalment has made are in the 20-30% range, though in terms of lifetime business Housefull 2 remains the best one as Housefull 3 fell a little short of Housefull 2 despite a better start," reports the trade website.
The business of the film after all Diwali festivities get over is crucial. It will be interesting to see how the film fares afterwards. Will it be another Rs. 200 crore film for superstar Akshay Kumar after Mission Mangal (2019).
A scene from The Thursday Murder Club, where four retirees turn amateur detectives in a quiet British village shaken by a real murderInstagram/NetflixUK
Stills from Andaz Apna Apna
Stills from Andaz Apna Apna
Vinay Kumar Sinha
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.