Streaming platform ZEE5 on Thursday announced that three of their upcoming films – Irrfan Khan’s Murder at Teesri Manzil 302, Waah Zindagi, and Turtle – both starring Sanjay Mishra – will release on December 31.
Starring Khan and Ranvir Shorey in pivotal roles, Murder at Teesri Manzil 302 is a high on suspense movie. Khan died in April last year at the age of 54. Directed by Navneet Baj Saini, the story revolves around a murder mystery that unfolds with a lot of twists.
Manish Kalra, Chief Business Officer, ZEE5 India said, their objective is to bring forth rich storytelling for their viewers. “2021 was a challenging year, but we tried our best to deliver top-notch entertaining content for everyone. It gives me great joy to announce the release of three more films with interesting storylines that will captivate viewer interest with renewed vigour as we step into a New Year together,” Kalra said in a statement.
Waah Zindagi and Turtle are directed by Dinesh S Yadav. Described as a slice-of-life story, Waah Zindagi is about a fickle boy who is set to redeem his past. It also features Naveen Kasturia, Plabita Borthakur, Vijay Raaz, Dharmesh Vyas, and Manoj Joshi.
Waah Zindagi is a journey of a destitute farmer's son struggling hard to become an entrepreneur to win his childhood sweetheart. His dreams seem to crash with Chinese products dumped in India. However, he decides to fight back and ends up with a Make In India initiative, the official synopsis read.
Whereas, Turtle is inspired by the real story of Ramkaran Choudhary (Bagod) from village Dehlod, Rajasthan. The movie also received the National Film Award for Best Rajasthani Film at the 66th National Film Awards.
Featuring Mishra as the central character, Turtle highlights the issue of the world water crisis. It is a metaphorical depiction of the turtle, wherein a drought-struck village of Rajasthan, Choudhary (Mishra), is churning the parched, sun-baked earth, to extract water and the common folk indulged in a tug of war, rotating on his shell, desperate to quench their thirst. Will he find success with his water mission or will the villagers make him fail in his attempt forms the plotline of the movie.
Mishra said he is delighted that two of his special films Waah Zindagi and Turtle will be released soon. “The entire team has put in a lot of hard work and it couldn't have been released at a better time than the eve of the New Year for the viewers. I am hopeful that people will take away something after watching these films and that they love the way we have presented them,” the 58-year-old actor said.
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.