The Telugu-language supernatural drama film Bangarraju, which hit theatres on January 14, 2022, on the auspicious occasion of Sankranthi, is now set to stream on the largest streaming platform for South Asian content, ZEE5 Global.
Directed by Kalyan Krishna Kurasala, Bangarraju stars Nagarjuna and Naga Chaitanya in lead roles. The film brought the father-son duo together for the first time. It has been produced jointly by Nagarjuna’s Annapurna Studios and ZEE Studios. Bangarraju released in theatres for Sankranthi this year and emerged as a blockbuster at the box office by entertaining the audience on the silver screen. It will now stream on ZEE5 Global from February 18.
Archana Anand, Chief Business Officer, ZEE5 Global, said, “We are the only streaming platform for South Asians that offers such a rich content library across 18 languages including 11 Indian languages. Adding to our South content library is a key focus area for us and we are seeing strong growth across global markets for our recent releases, especially for Telugu movies. We’re excited to now bring our global audiences Bangarraju featuring the biggest stars in the Telugu cinema industry and we look forward to adding this for our viewers on ZEE5.”
The Akkineni family-Annapurna Studios and ZEE5 Global have had a history of a healthy association with each other. Annapurna Studios also produced the ZEE5 Global Original Loser 2 recently. The digital streaming platform has also been streaming the post-theatrical releases Hello, starring Akhil Akkineni in the lead, and Rarandoi Veduka Chuddham, starring Naga Chaitanya in the lead. Both the films were produced by Annapurna Studios.
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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.