Actor Sidharth Malhotra says the blockbuster success of "Shershaah" gave him the confidence to be part of "inspiring" stories that are remembered beyond their box office run.
For Malhotra, who is celebrating his 38th birthday today, the "pure victory" for any actor is to be recognised for their work years later.
"The beauty of any piece of art is that nobody knows at what time it will resonate with the audience. But the intention, to make cinema which will be remembered, needs to be there," Malhotra told PTI.
"I think any actor's profession cannot be judged at present. It's years later, when someone comes up to me and remembers my second film, third film, some scene, some emotion... That is pure victory." the actor said, citing examples of megastar Amitabh Bachchan's "Agneepath '' and Rajkumar Santoshi-directed "Andaz Apna Apna".
Malhotra said the merit that "Shershaah'', based on the life of Kargil hero Captain Vikram Batra, brought his way has given him the confidence to be involved with other creative aspects of filmmaking.
"In 'Shershaah', I was the force behind it right from the beginning. Not to take anything away from the director and writer, but I was involved in all the processes... When something like that clicks and people resonate with your thought process... That gives confidence. This is what I was longing for, to make stories which will be inspiring and will be remembered." The actor, also known for his projects such as "Student of the Year", "Hasee Toh Phasee", "Ek Villain" and "Baar Baar Dekho", will next be seen in the Netflix film "Mission Majnu". The 1970s-set espionage thriller, features Malhotra in the role of Indian intelligence agent Amandeep Ajitpal Singh, who goes undercover as Tariq to pass on state secrets regarding Pakistan’s nuclear capability to India.
The Delhi-born actor said he came across the script of "Mission Majnu" right before the lockdown and found it fascinating as it was a complete package with elements of "true story, thrill and romance".
"I found it fascinating that it is inspired by true events and yet it is fictionalized for obvious reasons, because we do not know about these missions. It gives an insight into how a spy works in another country on their own while on a mission in an entertaining and interesting way... So I found it a complete film, with elements of true story, thrill and romance. " After "Shershaah", "Mission Majnu" is yet another real-life inspired story Malhotra is part of. The actor said his inclination for inspirational stories may have something to do with his army background.
"Maybe it is because I come from an army background that I like to portray such heroic characters. But I also feel it is imperative to showcase the efforts that our forces make, whether it is the armed forces or secret service, to protect the borders of the country." The movie marks another effort in the action genre for the actor, who believes it is the emotion behind the action that attracts him to such stories. Following "Mission Majnu", he will also be seen in actioner "Yodha".
Malhotra said though he enjoys the action genre, it is important for him that the audience find it as exciting as he does.
"I've always dived into action as a genre. Starting from 'Ek Villain', where he is motivated to fight for love. It is basically the emotion that I really like... I think it's the shift of that emotion. I'm drawn to it personally and find it exciting. But it is more important that the audience find it exciting." "Mission Majnu" is directed by ad filmmaker Shantanu Bagchi and also features "Pushpa: The Rise" star Rashmika Mandana. The teaser of the movie was launched last month at India Gate on Vijay Diwas, while the film will premiere on Netflix on January 20.
Working with first time director Bagchi was an interesting experience, said Sidharth. The duo bonded over conversations about the story and the way it should be showcased on screen.
"Shantanu has got a passion for sketching and he would explain the shot breakdowns to us with a lot of sketches, which was very intriguing. He also likes to dive deep into a scene and have conversations, which I like personally. So we were kind of bonding over that. I think it's a great debut from his side, as there are so many intricate details and layers. Hopefully, people will enjoy it." Rashmika plays a visually-impaired Pakistani girl in the film, who falls in love with Sidharth's spy. The South star's free-flowing attitude made the experience easy, said the Bollywood actor.
"Rashmika has picked that innocence of a Pakistani girl very interestingly. Off the camera, her free-flowing attitude was extremely easy to work with. She never comes with solid dos' and don'ts." Written by Parveez Shaikh, Aseem Arrora and Sumit Batheja, “Mission Majnu” is produced by RSVP and GBA.
(PTI)
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.