Actress Kangana Ranaut on Wednesday said she and Irrfan Khan were initially supposed to star in the upcoming comedy-drama Tiku Weds Sheru. Ranaut, who is producing the movie via her Manikarnika Films, said the project was previously titled Divine Lovers.
"This is very special. This film was launched before. Initially, Irrfan Sahab and I were supposed to do this film. It must be about six-seven years ago. You all came for its launch event and the name of the film then was Divine Lovers," the actor-producer told reporters in Mumbai.
She was speaking at the trailer launch of the Prime Video film, directed by Sai Kabir Srivastva and featuring Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Avneet Kaur in the lead.
Ranaut said Srivastva had once canned the project after falling sick and by the time he reached out to her, it was too late.
"When he came to me after many years, so a big problem was that Irrfan Sahab was nowhere around us and that demotivated us. The second problem was that we needed the Kangana of 10 years ago, the Kangana who had the dream of big city in her eyes, the Kangana who was hoping to be a part of Bollywood. I also said 'Let it be Kabir, this is not going to work now'," she recalled.
The actor said she then pitched the movie to Aparna Purohit, head of India originals at streaming service Prime Video, who "lapped it up".
"That gave us a lot of courage, and then, the paths eventually ended up opening. It's been an amazing collaboration with the Amazon team," she added.
Tiku Weds Sheru is billed as a tale of two eccentric, starry-eyed characters, who want to make it big in Bollywood.
Ranaut described the movie as a heartfelt ode to Mumbai, the city of dreams.
"This is a kind of love letter to those who come to this city, but lose their way yet end up finding something much more meaningful," she said.
The film will premiere on Prime Video on June 23 in India and across 240 countries and territories worldwide.
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.