By: Mohnish Singh
Actress Jacqueline Fernandez will be flying off to Jaisalmer to join the shoot of her upcoming film Bachchan Pandey. Also starring Akshay Kumar, Kriti Sanon, and Arshad Warsi in principal characters, the action-entertainer hit the shooting floor in the first week of January.
Produced by Sajid Nadiadwala under the banner of Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment, Bachchan Pandey is being directed by Farhad Samji who last helmed multi-starrer Housefull 4 (2019) for the same production house.
Akshay Kumar, Kriti Sanon, Arshad Warsi, and Jacqueline Fernandez will be in Jaisalmer this whole month until the first week of March. After wrapping up the outdoor schedule in Jaisalmer, the team will fly back to Mumbai to begin the next schedule.
A source close to the development informs an entertainment portal, “Jacqueline will fly off to Jaisalmer by mid-next week, and join the team of Bachchan Pandey for the shoot from the next week. She will be canning some important scenes of the film with Akshay and other members of the cast.”
While other cast members had begun the shoot for Bachchan Pandey last month, Fernandez will start shooting from the next week. The film will see Kumar playing a gangster, who aspires to be an actor. Sanon plays the character of a journalist, who wishes to be a director and Warsi as a struggling actor. There is no update on the character that Fernandez is essaying in the film. Bachchan Pandey is speculated to be arriving in cinemas in January 2022.
Aside from Bachchan Pandey, Jacqueline Fernandez has a couple of more exciting projects in her pocket. She was recently shooting for 12 Street Entertainment and Tips Industries’ Bhoot Police alongside Saif Ali Khan, Arjun Kapoor, and Yami Gautam. The actress has also shot some portions for her next with Rohit Shetty, titled Cirkus. The film also stars Ranveer Singh and Pooja Hegde in lead roles.
Keep visiting this space over and again for more updates and reveals from the world of entertainment.
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.