Amazon Prime Video on Monday announced that the streaming media giant is set to adapt its hit international series Modern Love in three Indian languages - Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu.
Titled Modern Love: Mumbai, Modern Love: Chennai, and Modern Love: Hyderabad, all the three streaming shows are scheduled to release in 2022 across more than 240 countries and territories.
According to the announcement teaser shared by Prime Video on Instagram, the “3 new series” will be set in “3 cities” wherein the makers will explore “1 emotion”. These series will feature adaptations of heart-warming stories of Modern Love from The New York Times' eponymous column.
Each episode is designed to take audiences on a journey of discovering love through stories of multiple human emotions ranging from love and romance to self-love, familial love, love towards ones' friends, and love that emerges out of kindness, among others.
Love is a universal language understood by all, said James Farrell, head of local Originals, Amazon Studios. "Modern Love is an ode to love in its varied forms. We have seen audiences across the world relate to the stories from our US show, and we feel India's diverse culture organically lends itself to the series. We're confident that the Indian adaptations will similarly touch a chord with our customers," Farrell said in a statement.
The original Modern Love is an American romantic comedy anthology streaming television series which has been created by John Carney. The first season of the show, which premiered on Prime Video on October 18, 2019, featured Anne Hathaway, Tina Fey, Dev Patel, John Slattery, Brandon Victor Dixon, Catherine Keener, Julia Garner, and Andy Garcia, among others. The second season starred Gbenga Akinnagbe, Lucy Boynton, Minnie Driver, Kit Harington, Garrett Hedlund, Anna Paquin, Jack Reynor, and Miranda Richardson, among others. It premiered on August 13, 2021.
With the Indian adaptations of Modern Love, the streamer is aiming at taking stories of love that are rooted in Indian soil to audiences across India and the world, said Aparna Purohit, head of India Originals, Amazon Prime Video.
"The series, which will be made across multiple languages, will explore the countless shades of love. While these heart-warming stories are adapted from the famous New York Times column, they're quintessentially Indian at heart, with the metropolitan cities of Mumbai, Chennai, and Hyderabad serving as the perfect canvas. We're truly excited to bring these incredible stories to our customers across India and the world," Purohit added.
Daniel Jones, editor of Modern Love at The New York Times, said it is an honour to see these stories of love being adapted for the Indian versions of the show. "We're thrilled with the appreciation Modern Love has received worldwide. These Indian adaptions are in our own way, a little love letter to India, as well as a testament to the universal appeal of love as an emotion," he added.
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.