On Friday, streaming media giant Netflix announced the cast of their much-awaited India original series Baahubali: Before The Beginning. As the title suggests itself, the digital series is a prequel to ace filmmaker S.S. Rajamouli’s epic films Baahubali: The Beginning (2015) and Baahubali: The Conclusion (2017).
The prequel will be based on the first book of a proposed trilogy, The Rise of Sivagami, by Anand Neelakantan. Popular television actress Mrunal Thakur, who was recently seen in critically acclaimed film Love Sonia (2018), has been roped in to play the titular matriarch Sivagami, a character immortalized by Ramya Krishnan. Actor Rahul Bose has been signed on to play Skandadasa. Besides Mrunal Thakur and Rahul Bose, the cast also boasts the presence of Atul Kulkarni, Vaquar Shaikh, Jameel Khan, Siddharth Arora, and Anup Soni.
Baahubali: Before The Beginning will be set fifty years before the first movie and seventy-five years before the second. It will predominantly revolve around the character of Sivagami. Talking about the character, producer Prasad Devineni, said that the series will dig deeper into the powerful character while expanding the series back-story and introducing new characters and locations.
"We grew up watching a lot of Hollywood films by a lot of auteurs and that gave us our start," Katta said at the event. "It's about making it more experiential, that's the vision of the story."
Netflix has joined forces with the team behind Baahubali, including Arka Media Works and director S.S. Rajamouli.
Baahubali: Before The Beginning is most likely to premiere in 2019 on Netflix.
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.