There is no denying the fact that the upcoming multilingual Saaho is one of the most awaited films of 2019. The action entertainer has been hogging all the limelight ever since it was officially announced in 2017, right after the release of Prabhas’ gobsmackingly epic Baahubali: The Conclusion (2017).
Besides Prabhas, the Sujeeth directorial also stars Bollywood actress Shraddha Kapoor in the lead role. Kapoor, who is one of the most sought-after actresses in the Hindi film industry, is making her South debut with the hotly anticipated film.
With excitement reaching fever pitch for Saaho ahead of its wide theatrical release in August, the news is coming in that Prabhas and Shraddha Kapoor are set to fly off to Austria to shoot a romantic song for the film.
“Prabhas and Shraddha will fly off to Austria next week. They are shooting a romantic track there, along with a few scenes as well,” a source close to the development reveals to a popular entertainment portal.
While many might think that Shraddha Kapoor, who was last seen in the Shree Narayan Singh directorial Meter Gul Batti Chalu (2018), does not have much of a role in Saaho, the source says otherwise.
“Shraddha has a very important character in the film. In fact, she has several action scenes along with Prabhas. It’s not a small appearance as is being speculated,” concludes the source.
Saaho is one of the costliest films of Indian cinema. Its budget is pegged at a whopping ₹ 300 crores. The multilingual film will hit screens in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi. Aside from Prabhas and Shraddha Kapoor, Saaho also features Neil Nitin Mukesh, Evelyn Sharma, Mandira Bedi, Mahesh Manjrekar, Chunky Pandey, Jackie Shroff, Tinnu Anand and Murali Sharma on its ensemble star cast.
Produced by V. Vamsi Krishna Reddy, Pramod Uppalapati and Bhushan Kumar, Saaho is set to roll into theatres on 15th August, 2019.
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.