Baahubali: The Beginning (2015) and Baahubali: The Conclusion (2017) star Rana Daggubati was quite psyched up about his trilingual film Haathi Mere Saathi, which had a direct-to-digital release some time ago. However, the film received mixed response from critics and audiences alike.
Opening up about the lukewarm response the trilingual film received, Daggubati told an Indian publication, “Like success, failure and mixed reviews are part of some films you do and especially if you are doing things a bit offbeat. The learning that comes out of it becomes very fruitful. As for Haathi Mere Saathi, I will always be proud to play Bhandev.”
Currently, Daggubati has a number of exciting projects on his platter. One of them being the official Telugu remake of Malayalam hit Ayyappanum Koshiyum (2019). Talking about the same, he says, “The story of the film plays on the male ego. It will be a new film for both of us as well as for the Telugu audience.”
Daggubati is also collaborating with his superstar uncle Venkatesh on a digital project set at Netflix. The duo will share screen space for the first time in a streaming show titled Rana Naidu, which is the official adaptation of the American drama series Ray Donovan.
Ask him about Tollywood stars collaborating on multiple projects, and he says, “It is the story that drives it all. If we have directors that demand it, audiences will always love and enjoy it.”
Rana Daggubati, who has been a part of the Indian film industry for several years now, comes from a showbiz family. There are several actors in Tollywood who belong to prominent film families. Just like Bollywood, Tollywood has also been accused of promoting nepotism time and again.
“Nepotism, by definition, is applied to political hierarchy or public sector companies. The entertainment world is based on the arts. It requires hard work from everyone, irrespective of being from a prominent family or not,” Daggubati concludes.
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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.