Prabhas, who was just another actor working in Telugu films, became a national phenomenon after the earth-shattering success of Baahubali: The Beginning (2015) and Baahubali 2: The Conclusion (2017). Apart from establishing Prabhas as a superstar, the franchise also proved to be a game-changer for Indian cinema. Blurring cultural and linguistic barriers, the Baahubali franchise wrote a new success story.
Prabhas followed up the success with Saaho (2019), a trilingual action-thriller. Also featuring Shraddha Kapoor and Neil Nitin Mukesh in important roles, the film went on to set the box-office on fire. Despite receiving poor response from critics, Saaho did exceptionally at the box-office and turned out to be one of the highest-grossing films of the year.
The latest we hear that the distribution rights for his two upcoming films exceed his earlier films. A source in the know informs a publication that distributors across Northern India offered a whopping price to the makers of his upcoming films, considering the success of his recent movies.
The source says, “Prabhas is one of the most loved superstars and he has a massive fan following not only in the South but also across India. His films Baahubali 2 and Saaho were box office hits, and the Hindi rights to the movies were sold at a massive 50 crores and 70 crores, respectively. Details about his current project are still under wraps. However, even before its release, various distributors from the Northern market have taken a keen interest in purchasing the rights to the movie for a massive amount that exceeds that of his last two films.”
Prabhas is currently shooting for his next multilingual film with director Radha Krishna Kumar. Tentatively titled Jaan, the movie has Pooja Hegde as his love interest. The superstar has also collaborated with Nag Ashwin on a new film.
A scene from The Thursday Murder Club, where four retirees turn amateur detectives in a quiet British village shaken by a real murderInstagram/NetflixUK
Stills from Andaz Apna Apna
Stills from Andaz Apna Apna
Vinay Kumar Sinha
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.