By: Mohnish Singh
Janhvi Kapoor, who won rave reviews for her powerful performance in Dharma Productions’ Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl (2020), seems to have added one more exciting project to her repertoire. According to reports, the newcomer has been locked to play the female lead in the official Hindi remake of the super hit Tamil film Kolamavu Kokila (2018).
A leading Indian publication reports that Kapoor will reprise the same role which actress Nayanthara played in the original black comedy crime thriller. The report adds that the Dhadak (2018) actress will start shooting for the remake from January 9th and she will be flying to Punjab for the same on Jan 7th.
“The film will be over in a single schedule of 45 days, which will need Janhvi and the rest of the cast to travel to different locations in the state. The decision to shoot in Punjab and the timeline was decided only a few days back,” a source in the know informs the publication.
The yet-to-be-titled remake will be produced by filmmaker Aanand L Rai under his production house, Colour Yellow Productions. It will be directed by Siddharth Sengupta, who has earlier been an assistant director for such successful films as Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye (2008) and Agneepath (2012).
Meanwhile, Janhvi Kapoor is waiting for the release of her next film Roohi Afzana. Directed by Hardik Mehta and produced by Dinesh Vijan, the horror-comedy film also features Rajkummar Rao and Varun Sharma in important roles.
Apart from Roohi Afzana, Kapoor also has Dharma Productions’ Dostana 2 in her kitty. It is a sequel to the 2008 comic-caper Dostana, which had Priyanka Chopra, John Abraham, and Abhishek Bachchan fronting the cast. Kartik Aaryan and debutant Lakshya round off the lead cast of the much-awaited sequel.
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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.