Actress Pooja Hegde on Friday announced that she has completed filming for her forthcoming Tamil film Beast, co-starring South star Thalapathy Vijay as the male lead. The comedy-action thriller is written and directed by Nelson Dilipkumar.
Sun Pictures, the banner backing the film, took to social media to share the news of Hegde wrapping up the shoot, alongside a video message from the actor. “It is a wrap for Pooja Hegde! Hear what she has to say about shooting for Beast with Thalapathy Vijay and director Nelson Dilipkumar,” the tweet read.
Hegde, who returns to Tamil films after a gap of nine years, said she thoroughly enjoyed working on Beast. “It has been great working on Beast because everyone is so lively and it felt like a vacation while we were shooting. It has been an absolute pleasure to be on the sets, we have loved so much making the film. And I hope you guys will laugh as well. In typical Nelson and Vijay sir's style, this film is going to be entertainment. Sadly, today is my last day for Beast. It's a shoot wrap for my portion,” the actress said in the 46-second video clip.
Beast, which pairs Hegde opposite Vijay for the first time, went on floors earlier this year. Last week, the director had revealed via social media that the team has completed 100 days of shooting. The film is scheduled to release in 2022.
Meanwhile, Hegde is looking forward to the release of her multilingual film Radha Shyam with Prabhas. The film is scheduled to release on January 14, 2021. She will also be seen in the Telugu-language film Acharya with Chiranjeevi and Ram Charan, Rohit Shetty’s Hindi film Cirkus opposite Ranveer Singh.
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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.