John Abraham and Akshay Kumar have starred together in a couple of successful films and their friendship goes back a long way. They first teamed up for Garam Masala (2005) and the film turned out to be a runaway hit at the box-office. They joined hands again for Desi Boys (2011) followed by Housefull 2 (2012). Both films emerged as box-office hits and still attract huge viewership on their television premieres.
However, it has been almost eight years since the audience has not seen them in a film together. Things seem to have changed a lot over time. Now instead of starring together in a film, both actors arrive at the box-office with their respective movies at the same time. On 15th August 2018, Akshay Kumar and John Abraham locked horn by releasing Gold and Satyamev Jayate respectively. History is set to repeat itself again as Independence Day 2019 is going to witness yet another clash between Kumar’s Mission Mangal and Abraham’s Batla House.
Today, John launched the trailer of his film Batla House. And when he was asked about clashing with good friend Akshay Kumar once again, he said "Make some noise for Desi Boys. Honestly, I would have loved to create a controversy but Akshay and I are very dear friends. We really get along. In fact, we messaged each other the day after yesterday. There is absolutely nothing. We are just releasing two films on the same date. There is enough space. We are giving a lot of choices to choose to the audience from good films. I can say my film is very good. At least, one choice audience has in head that my film is a good film. I hope the other two films are also very good. But August 15 is a great day."
Aside from Batla House and Mission Mangal, Baahubali star Prabhas’ much-awaited biggie Saaho is also releasing on 15th August. Set to hit screens in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi, the Sujeeth directorial also stars Shraddha Kapoor in the lead role.
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.