Starring John Abraham, Anil Kapoor, Ileana D' Cruz, Arshad Warsi, Pulkit Samrat, Kriti Kharbanda, Urvashi Rautela and Saurabh Shukla in pivotal roles, director Anees Bazmee’s much-awaited comic-caper Pagalpanti has locked a date for its theatrical release.
Produced by Bhushan Kumar, Kumar Mangat and Abhishek Pathak, Pagalpanti will land in theatres on 6th December, 2019. It will clash with Ashutosh Gowariker’s much-talked-about period drama Panipat.
Anil Kapoor and John Abraham have previously worked with Anees Bazmee in Welcome Back (2015), while Ileana D’Cruz has shared the screen space with Anil Kapoor in the Anees Bazmee-directed Mubarkan (2018).
Bhushan Kumar, who is producing the film with Kumar Mangat after Raid (2018), said in a statement, “T-Series and Kumarji’s Panorama Studios have worked before with Raid and doing Pagalpanti was an immediate yes. Kumarji and his son Abhishek got us the script of this film and my team and I were in splits with what we heard. Plus the entire team right from director Anees to actors Anilji, John and Ileana, we have worked with.”
The producer went on to add, “Anees directed one of our biggest hit Ready (2011), John and we have collaborated before and are now doing several films together. And I have always liked the way Arshad has left us in split with his comic timings. We are happy to have Pulkit Samrat and Kriti Kharbanda onboard, too. The characters written are so hilarious that you are laughing throughout.”
Pagalpanti starts rolling from 17th February and will have a 90-day start-to-finish schedule in London and Leeds.
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire
Rahul Bhatt sparks controversy over 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.