VETERAN Indian filmmaker Shekhar Kapur said he is trying to rediscover the creative naivety that shaped Masoom as he prepares for its much-awaited sequel, set to begin filming soon.
Shabana Azmi and Naseeruddin Shah, who played lead roles in the 1983 film, are set to return for the sequel, for which shooting will start this year.
At the inaugural Indian Film Festival Germany, where Masoom was to be screened, Kapur said his inexperience gave it a unique quality.
“It’s like an attempt to go back to my childhood. And how do I become naive again? Because even Picasso said that. They asked him, ‘what do you really want?’ He said, ‘I want to paint like I’ve never made a painting before.’ And that was Masoom,” the filmmaker said.
“Masoom was made by a person that did not know a thing about it. So I just said, ‘okay, let me try.’ And so I just had to concentrate on the story because I didn’t know what a camera was and how that worked and everything. So maybe something worked,” he said.
Based on American author Erich Segal’s book Man, Woman and Child, Masoom followed a happily married couple whose lives are upended when the husband’s illegitimate son from a past affair comes home.
Kapur said, “I was not a trained filmmaker. I’d never made a film. I’d never assisted anybody. I had not studied filmmaking. I knew nothing about film and then one day I just made a film and I was a chartered accountant in London.
“In fact, I worked in Berlin as an accountant also for a while, then I went back and I made a film. There was a certain naivety to it. And there’s an innocence to when you’re absolutely naive about what you’re doing. You do things differently. So when people say, can you make Masoom again? I say, ‘Can you make me naive again?’” he added.
The Indian Film Festival Germany, which began last Friday (10), is organised by the Embassy of India, Berlin and The Tagore Centre. Kapur said when he received a call from the embassy for the festival, he thought they would be screening his Oscarwinning 1998 movie Elizabeth or his most recent directorial What’s Love Got to Do with It? (2022).
“They said, Masoom. I said Masoom is 30 years old. What are you talking about? They said no, we just want to show it. It’s popular. I haven’t seen it for about 30 years. So it’ll be interesting for me to see it on screen.”
The Indian Film Festival Germany will also feature simultaneous screenings and panel discussions in Hamburg, Frankfurt, and Munich, making it one of the largest non-commercial film festivals to be held outside India.
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.