By: Mohnish Singh
Actress Tamannaah Bhatia, who has made her presence felt not only in Bollywood but Tamil and Telugu cinema also, turns a year older today on 21st December. To mark the occasion, the makers of her much-awaited upcoming Telugu film Seetimaarr unveiled the character poster of the talented actress.
Made under the banner of Srinivasa Silver Screen, Seetimaarr is a sports action drama directed by Sampath Nandi. It stars Bhatia in the lead role of Jwala Reddy, who is the coach of a women’s kabaddi team.
In addition to Bhatia, the movie also has Telugu superstar Gopichand in the lead role. He also plays a hockey coach in the movie. Popular actress Digangana Suryavanshi will be seen in the role of a TV journalist. Seetimaarr is scheduled to release in 2021.
The upcoming film marks the third collaboration between director Sampath Nandi and Tamannaah Bhatia. The two have previously worked together on such projects as Racha (2012) and Bengal Tiger (2015). This will be the second collaboration for Sampath with Gopichand after Gautham Nanda (2017).
Last month, the team resumed production after a long hiatus due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic. Right after completing her remainder portion for Seetimaarr, Bhatia is expected to commence work on the Telugu remake of Andhadhun (2018), alongside Nithiin and Nabha Natesh. The actress reprises Tabu’s role in the upcoming remake.
Apart from Seetimaarr and the remake of Andhadhun, Tamannaah Bhatia has an impressive line-up of films set to release in 2021, including That Is Mahalakshmi, Bole Chudiyan, Gurthunda Seethakalam, F3: Fun and Frustration. The actress is also gearing up for her digital debut.
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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.