Filmmaker Mohit Suri says before he started working with Arjun Kapoor on Half Girlfriend, he had a preconceived notion that the actor's journey in Bollywood was easy as he came from a film family.
"I hadn't finished my script (of Half Girlfriend) when Arjun called me to meet regarding something else. I pre-judged him a little that he was a producer's son, launched by a big banner, must've been trained to become an actor. As cliche as a film family could be," Mohit said.
The filmmaker says after spending time with Arjun he realised the actor has put in a lot of hard work to join movies.
"He was brought up by a single mother, a strong independent woman who worked hard and made a name for herself in a male dominated society," Mohit says.
In Half Girlfriend, Arjun plays the character of Madhav Jha, a simpleton from Bihar who falls in love with a high society Delhi girl, played by Shraddha Kapoor.
"Somewhere down the line, when you talk to Arjun about things like 'who did you date' and he'll say, 'I was fat so I couldn't get a girl.' He had the motivation to lose weight and become an actor. That's hard work and that's exactly what Madhav Jha is.
"I thought these were the traits I could use. He always felt every girl was out of his league because of how he used to look, so I picked up these traits and used it for my film."
The film is an adaptation of author Chetan Bhagat's novel of the same name, and Mohit had to carefully choose which portions from the book would make it to the big screen.
The film is scheduled to release this Friday (19).
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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.