By: Mohnish Singh
The first shooting schedule of Prabhas’ next outing Salaar has been wrapped up in Hyderabad. The film, which is being billed as one of the slickest action films ever made in Indian cinema, went on floors in the last week of January.
Confirming the successful conclusion of the first schedule, cinematographer Bhuvan Gowda took to Twitter and shared a picture from the final shot of the first schedule. In the picture, we can see some crew members climbing atop a ladder setting up a shot. “Climbing a mountain. SALAAR end of 1st schedule (sic),” wrote the cinematographer.
Salaar was officially announced in December 2020. It marks the maiden collaboration between director Prashanth Neel and Prabhas. Shruti Haasan has been roped in to star alongside the Saaho (2019) star.
Talking about the forthcoming film, Prabhas had earlier said in a statement, “I am really excited to start the shoot of the film post the Muhurat Puja in Hyderabad and reveal my look to the fans.”
Tipped to be an action saga, Salaar is being simultaneously shot in Kannada and Telugu. It will be later dubbed in several other popular Indian languages, including Hindi. Well-known distributor Anil Thadani will present the Hindi version of the film.
Prabhas will next be seen in filmmaker Radha Krishna Kumar’s romantic drama Radhe Shyam which stars Pooja Hegde as his leading lady. The film, which will be dubbed and released in Hindi, Tamil, and Malayalam, marks the maiden collaboration of Prabhas and Pooja. It is expected to hit the marquee in the second half of 2021.
The superstar has also begun work on his much-talked-about mythological drama Adipurush. Directed by Om Raut, the big-ticket film also stars Saif Ali Khan in the lead role. The search for the leading lady is still on.
In the second half of the year, Prabhas will kick-start Nag Ashwin’s multilingual science-fiction, co-starring Deepika Padukone and Amitabh Bachchan. Padukone is set to make her Tollywood debut with the upcoming project.
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.