The upcoming Bollywood film Jawaani Jaaneman has missed its date with theatres a number of times in the past few months. Earlier slated to hit the marquee on 29th November, 2019, the movie was pushed to February 7, 2020. Surprisingly, the release date of the film has once again been changed. Now instead of 7th February, it will arrive in cinemas on 31st January, 2020.
Jawaani Jaaneman stars seasoned actors Saif Ali Khan and Tabu in lead roles. The film marks their reunion after a massive gap of two decades as the duo was last seen together in filmmaker Sooraj Barjatya’s multi-starrer family drama Hum Saath Saath Hain (1999). However, the two actors were not romantically paired opposite each other in the film.
Besides Khan and Tabu, Jawaani Jaaneman also stars Alaia Furniturewala. It marks her debut on the big screen. For the uninitiated, Alaia is the daughter of former model and actress Pooja Bedi, and is already quite popular because of her sizzling images that keep sending the internet into a tizzy every now and then.
Along with announcing the new release date, the makers also rolled out the teaser poster of the film. Jawaani Jaaneman tells the story of a father-daughter duo. Saif Ali Khan is playing Alaia Furniturewala’s father in the movie, while Tabu will be seen as his ex-girlfriend.
Talking about what led her to sign Jawaani Jaaneman, Tabu had earlier said, "I have been playing dark roles lately, and the character I play in Jawaani Jaaneman is absolutely refreshing. I loved the script when I read it and I definitely wanted to do this at the first go.”
Directed by Nitin Kakkar, Jawaani Jaaneman is co-produced by Saif Ali Khan in association with Pooja Entertainment.
A scene from The Thursday Murder Club, where four retirees turn amateur detectives in a quiet British village shaken by a real murderInstagram/NetflixUK
Stills from Andaz Apna Apna
Stills from Andaz Apna Apna
Vinay Kumar Sinha
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.