After staying away from the silver screen for two long years, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan returned to sets with Yash Raj Films’ yet to be announced production Pathan. The action thriller film, which also stars Deepika Padukone and John Abraham in lead roles, hit the shooting floor in 2020 and is expected to wrap up in a couple of months. The team is gearing up to resume filming after shoot was put on hold in the wake of the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic.
While fans are hopeful that Pathan will end Khan’s dry spell at the box-office, they are equally excited about his next untitled film which he is set to do with Tamil filmmaker Atlee Kumar. Atlee is one of the most successful filmmakers working in Tamil cinema today and has delivered back-to-back blockbusters.
After establishing himself as a force to reckon with in Tamil cinema, he is now gearing up to set foot in Bollywood. He has collaborated with Shah Rukh Khan for his first Hindi film and the project has been creating great buzz for quite some time now. And if fresh reports are to be believed, the filmmaker is planning to rope in popular South Indian actress Nayanthara for the female lead opposite Khan.
As per reports, initial talks are already on with the actress and if she signs the film on the dotted line, the audience will get to see this fresh pairing on the silver screen soon. For the uninitiated, Nayanthara has previously worked with Atlee on his directorial debut directorial Raja Rani (2013). The actress already has several exciting projects in the pipeline. It will be interesting to see if she gets to romance SRK in Atlee Kumar’s film.
Keep visiting this space over and again for more updates and reveals from the world of entertainment.
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.