A day after unveiling the first poster of their much-awaited film Guilty, Netflix raised the curtain on its trailer on Tuesday. Featuring supremely talented Kiara Advani in the lead role, the film has been in news ever since producer Karan Johar signed Advani to headline it.
Guilty promises to be an edge-of-the-seat thriller. It revolves around a group of college students and what all transpires in their lives when one of the college girls accuses Advani’s boyfriend VJ (Gurfateh Singh Pirzada) of raping her on Valentine’s Day night. The trailer clearly shows that everyone of them is hiding something and that there is more to it than meets the eye.
The movie marks the first collaboration between Netflix and Dharmatic Entertainment, the digital arm of Karan Johar’s successful production house Dharma Productions. KJo has previously directed segments in Netflix’s omnibus series Lust Stories (2018) and Ghost Stories (2020). His segment in Lust Stories featured Kiara Advani as the protagonist and was received extremely well by audiences and critics alike. Now, all eyes are set on their latest collaboration.
In addition to Kiara Advani, who has become the latest toast of the town with the huge success of Kabir Singh and Good Newwz last years, Guilty also stars debutante Akansha Ranjan Kapoor, Taher Shabbir and Gurfateh Singh Pirzada in significant characters.Directed by Ruchi Nair, who has previously written screenplays for Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi (2004) and Calcutta Mail (2003) and directed films like Kal: Yesterday and Tomorrow (2005) and Hanuman Da' Damdaar (2017), Guilty is slated to begin streaming on Netflix from March 6.
On the film front, Kiara Advani is looking forward to the release of her hugely anticipated horror comedy Laxmmi Bomb alongside superstar Akshay Kumar. She will also be seen in Indoo Ki Jawani, Shershaah and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2.
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.