By: Mohnish Singh
Made under the banner of Lyca Productions, Indian 2 is one of the hotly anticipated Tamil films. As the title aptly suggests, it is a sequel to the National Film Award-winning vigilante action drama Indian (1996) starring Kamal Haasan, Manisha Koirala, and Urmila Matondkar.
Haasan, who has starred in several iconic films in various Indian languages, plays the male lead in Indian 2 as well, while Kajal Aggarwal, Rakul Preet Singh, Priya Bhavani Shankar, and Siddharth round off the principal cast. Filmmaker Shankar, who directed the original film, is helming the sequel.
Indian 2 is the lengthiest project that Shankar has ever worked on. The film has suffered several setbacks ever since mounting the shooting floor, which led to its shoot being suspended many times over the past two years.
While a great number of films resumed production after India lifted lockdown restrictions in a phased manner, Indian 2 is yet to start shooting. Some media outlets recently wondered if the makers have decided to shelve the project.
But if a report published by a leading Indian daily is to be believed, the project is very much in the making and the team will resume production as soon as Kamal Haasan completes his election work.
The publication reports that the team has already finished 60% of the shoot so far. In April, Shankar is expected to complete portions featuring Siddharth, Priya Bhavani Shankar, and others.
The speculations on Indian 2 getting into the cold storage cropped up since Shankar is said to have joined forces with Telugu actor Ram Charan for a Pan-India film. However, the filmmaker will begin work on his next project only after wrapping up Indian 2. If all goes well, he will complete the project in the first half of 2021.
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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.