By: Mohnish Singh
Tollywood star Ram Charan, who is presently busy with the shoot of SS Rajamouli’s magnum-opus RRR, has joined forces with acclaimed filmmaker Shankar for his 15th film as an actor. Though not much else is known about the forthcoming project at the moment, a media outlet reports that the actor will commence work on the yet-to-be-titled film in June. Just like RRR, his next will also be mounted on a huge scale.
Sharing more details, a source in the know tells the publication, “It is currently in the scripting and pre-production stage. The idea is to take it on the floors in the month of June 2021, as by then, Ram Charan would have completed his work on the SS Rajamouli directed RRR.”
Director Shankar, whose films find audiences all across India, is set to make yet another Pan-India film, filled with a lot of drama, emotions, and action. “It is Shankar at his best, exploring the zone that Ram Charan excels in. Expect a lot of drama, elevation scenes, and powerful dialogues from this combo. Charan is all excited to collaborate with Shankar for the first time,” the source adds.
With Shankar moving on to direct Charan in his next film, one wonders what will happen to his much-delayed film Indian 2, starring Kamal Haasan, Siddharth, Kajal Aggarwal, and Rakul Preet Singh in lead roles.
The source informs. “A major chunk of Indian 2 has already been shot with international prosthetic and the VFX team is working on the film. Around 65 days of shoot still remains but at this point in time, the film is in a major limbo due to multiple internal conflicts. They have spent ₹165 crore (1650 million) on the film so far, and the remaining 65 to 70 days of shoot requires another bare minimum amount of ₹60 crore (600 million), taking the total budget to ₹225 crore (2250 million) plus. We hope all issues are resolved and the team gets back to finish the film, but it’s all up in the air at the moment, with no clarity on shooting schedules. The actors of Indian 2 have moved on to their next projects, and so has Shankar.”
Keep visiting this space for more updates and reveals from the world of entertainment.
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.