The annual London Indian Film Festival (LIFF) this month will celebrate the UK-India Year of Culture with its opening night film based on the life of Maharaja Duleep Singh.
The Black Prince, which was launched at the Cannes Film Festival last month, dramatises the story of the last king of Punjab who was taken under her wing by Queen Victoria during the Raj.
"As an edgy tie-in to the UK-India Year of Culture and complementing the BFIs (British Film Institute) India on Film programme, the festival opens with the red carpet premiere of the historical epic The Black Prince by Kavi Raz.
This powerful UK-produced film was launched at Cannes, and stars Indian music singer Satinder Sartaaj and iconic actress Shabana Azmi, and dramatises the little-known story of the last King of Punjab who was abducted by the British Raj to be mentored by Queen Victoria," an LIFF statement said.
Europe's largest Indian film festival is now in its eighth year and will include films screened across 11 cinemas in London between June 22 and 29.
The closing night film is a Malayalam road-movie thriller Sexy Durga, set in Kerala and directed by Sanal Kumar Sasidharan.
It had won the prestigious Tiger Award for best film at Rotterdam earlier this year.
"This years selection includes premieres of new comedies, gripping thrillers, shocking horror and insightful true life documentaries as well as bringing together UK previews of major award-winning films from the worlds greatest film festivals," said LIFF director Cary Rajinder Sawhney.
Dr Alka Bagri of the Bagri Foundation, the main sponsor of LIFF, said: "We are excited to celebrate with LIFF the art of Indian independent cinema in this UK-India Year of Culture.
This years programme is a vibrant and diverse mixture of films which explore all aspects of human experience, tackling hard-hitting issues through fiction and documentary.
"LIFF continues to offer stimulating talks, bringing together important figures of the LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Queer) community, and to propose the timely and critical discussion around the futures of artists and filmmakers in the face of Brexit.
"The other films in this years line-up include the world premiere of Tamil comedy Ticket The Movie by Raaghav Ranganthan, anarchic Bollywood comedy Badman by Soumik Sen, and N Padmakumars inspirational Mumbai drama Billion Colour Story.
The London festival will be followed by the Birmingham Indian Film Festival from June 23 to July 2.
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.