Bollywood star Taapsee Pannu, who was last seen in the Telugu language film Mishan Impossible, is presently busy promoting her upcoming Hindi film, Shabaash Mithu. Based on the life of former Test and ODI captain of the India women's national cricket team, Mithali Raj, the Srijit Mukherji directorial is slated to hit cinemas on 15 July 2022.
During a recent interview, Pannu expressed her wish to play a superhero of Indian origin in an MCU film. “Please ask Marvel. I am telling you this is the only wish list I have. People keep asking me what is your dream role, who do you want to work with?” the actress said.
She continued, “I have only one dream role, and one dream right now where my work is concerned - I want to be a part of Avengers. I want to play a superhero of Indian origin. That’s all I am trying to manifest. So, if anyone tells me a way to go about it, I will follow it.”
Meanwhile, Taapsee Pannu has a slew of exciting projects in the pipeline. After the release of Shabaash Mithu, she will be seen in Anurag Kashyap’s Dobaaraa. The film reunites the two after the 2019 film Manmarziyaan, also starring Abhishek Bachchan and Vicky Kaushal. The actress has also signed on to star alongside Shah Rukh Khan in Rajkumar Hirani’s Dunki, which recently went on floors in Mumbai.
Pannu is also turning producer with Blurr, in which she also plays the female lead. Apart from Blurr, she is also producing debutant filmmaker Tarun Dudeja’s recently announced film Dhak Dhak, starring Fatima Sana Shaikh, Dia Mirza, and Ratna Pathak Shah in prominent roles. The actress has also confirmed producing another project after Dhak Dhak. Samantha Ruth Prabhu is rumoured to be playing the female lead in it.
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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.