Starring Salman Khan and Aayush Sharma in principal roles, Antim: The Final Truth has been performing well at the domestic box office in India ever since its theatrical release on 26th November, 2021.
Directed by Mahesh Manjrekar, the film started off on a low note, but the business grew considerably on Saturday and Sunday. The audience has been raving about Salman Khan and Aayush Sharma’s performances in the film. The Dabangg (2010) actor is happy to know that the film has found audiences’ acceptance.
Antim: The Final Truth features Khan in the character of a cop. The actor has played a cop in several successful films before, including the Dabangg franchise, but his cop character in his latest outing is different in more ways than one.
When asked if he was nervous about playing Rajveer Singh in Antim, the actor said, “I knew in my head what I wanted to do with the character; I wanted to play it exactly how it was narrated to me. Mahesh also had the same thought. But when I started playing the character, I got scared that I am not doing anything. But then I drew confidence from the fact that Aayush was playing his character in the way that I thought I should play mine. And if I would play my character that way too, then his character would get overshadowed.”
The superstar adds that both could not have played the characters the same way. “Both of us could not have played our characters the same way. Aayush plays a powerful man but he has got that anger in him. My character in Antim sports a smile. Even if he’d exercise his authority, he would do it with a smile. So he knows his power. Even when he is having a conversation with the politicians, he will still have a smile on his face. That is the way I portrayed my character. It was good fun,” he concludes.
Antim is running successfully in cinemas in India.
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.