After bankrolling unconventional films such as Vicky Donor (2012) and Madras Cafe (2013), actor-producer John Abraham is now bringing Parmanu: The Story Of Pokharan, a film based on a series of nuclear tests which India conducted in 1998 right under the nose of the CIA spy satellites to become a nuclear state. The film has faced a lot of issues in its release, including several delays. Earlier, KriArj Entertainment, a popular moviemaking banner run by Prernaa Arora and Arjun N Kapoor, was the co-producer on the project along with Abraham’s JA Entertainment. However, as the movie drew to its release, KriArj backed out of the project after JA Entertainment dragged them to court over alleged delay in payments and non-payments which delayed the release of the film several times. Recently, our Mumbai correspondent, Mohnish Singh, met John at his office and tried to know more about the film, what made the actor-producer back it and much more.
After facing a lot of hurdles, your film Parmanu: The Story Of Pokhran is finally releasing. How are you feeling right now?
Well, right now, we are feeling very relieved. Usually, at this point of time, we should feel nervous about the reactions to the film, but we have not even reached that stage. We are just very relieved that the film is releasing and we are thankful to the honourable High Court and the honourable judge for exactly putting out a verdict that I was trying to save for so long. So, we are very thankful.
What made you back this project in the first place?
It was a matter of great pride to tell a story such as this. The story, I feel, that everybody should know but doesn’t know the details about. Lot of us only know the surface information about what happened in India but we don’t know the details, we don’t know the obstacles they faced, we don’t know that how the CIA was involved. There was a lot of information I found out only when I was brought for the film and that made me want to tell the story even more.
Does the film revolve around any particular person who was a part of the mission in 1998?
In this film, there are 6 characters but there are no heroes in it, the story of the film in itself is a hero. The hero is the screenplay, the hero is the dialogues, the hero is the director. So, we were clear as to how we wanted to project this film and all the people who made this mission happen are the heroes of the film. We are very clear about that.
How did this project come to you?
Abhishek Sharma (director) narrated the idea to me, a 10-page idea. Then I looked at him and he looked at me and I asked that how in 20 years nobody decided to make a film on this? This is one of the biggest events in Indian history. After he narrated the idea to me, I thought that it’s a very difficult film and then I thought how will I pull it off? After that, I smiled and said ‘I will do it’ because it’s so difficult that I would want to do it.
How was it to work with the cast and crew of Parmanu?
Wonderful! All credit to Abhishek and the entire team. And honestly, to Diana first of all for doing this and the entire cast to making this in record time. We finished two days ahead of schedule. So not only we pulled it off, we pulled it off in record time.
What are the key points to keep in mind when a filmmaker sets out to make a true-event-based film?
Parmanu is based on a true story. The key point to keep in mind is the research. We have to do the research right; you can’t rest with research. Then the most important is the plot of the film, you can’t mess with that. Our plot is 85% to 90% accurate, we fictionalised certain characters. We obviously could not use real names, we had to change them. Other than that, the only fictional character was my character because you have to tell the story from someone’s shoulder. When you see the film at the end if you wait for the end credits, then you will realize how accurate we were.
How were the facts of the event translated for silver screen adaptation?
Because there is so much information in the film, and this is for all to know, we have to establish that information with our audience first, so the first 20-25 minutes (of the film) were concentrated on establishing that. The director did a fantastic job by simplifying that information. Meaning, not only you and me, but the guy serving me tea should also know what happened. How did it happen? That is very important.
Do you think it’s fair to blame directors if the film does not go well?
There are so many elements and aspects of filmmaking; there is promotion for example. If the film is not well promoted, I feel that’s like a huge negative because a lot of people aren’t even aware of it, or how you distribute the film. If you ask me, I think you can have the best set-up ever but if your story is not on point, intriguing and revealing enough, it doesn’t matter because you can’t really fool the audience.
Do you think it’s really important to promote a film even if you have a strong content?
I think you have to be smart at promoting the film, you have to understand what you really need to push. If you want to give the film a digital push, you want it to go all out to different malls or if you want to go for 50,000 different shows. The answer is a yes and a no depending on the genre. If I was doing Welcome Back (2015) I would go out and do all the shows but if I was doing Parmanu, I will stick to a different kind of marketing positioning. This film is a word-of-mouth film but that’s not enough. For a word-of-mouth film, you have to go up from a certain benchmark and to reach that benchmark on a Friday, you have to work hard through marketing.
How come John Abraham as a producer backs a different type of cinema, but when it comes to John, the actor, he stars in completely different kinds of films altogether?
Very honestly, if you ask me my favourite genre, it is comedy. I love comedy and I love films like Welcome Back because I love making people laugh. For me, the biggest high is when people laugh. As a producer am I equipped to do a full-on comedy at this point? I haven’t chanced upon a script yet so I don’t know. I think differently as a producer but as an actor people love to see me in a certain way. That is why I try and balance both out.
Parmanu: The Story Of Pokhran releases today.
JK Rowling’s Instagram story mocking Pedro Pascal’s criticismInstagram Screengrab
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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.