Actor Ranbir Kapoor, whose upcoming film Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar is slated for release on March 8, has dismissed boycott Bollywood calls on social media as baseless.
The actor also denied reports that he was offered a biopic on cricketer Sourav Ganguly.
"If you ask me about any call about 'boycott Bollywood', I really find that baseless. There are so many negative things coming post-pandemic. Films are made for entertainment purposes, we are not saving the world. So audiences come to theatres to forget worries. They come to watch films on big screen, to have a good time. I just don't know (comprehend) the boycott thing," he told reporters here.
Though the actor did not specify the context of his comments, most recently, Shah Rukh Khan's Pathaan faced boycott Bollywood calls over the costumes worn by Deepika Padukone. The actor, best known for his roles in Barfi, Wake Up Sid, and Rockstar among others, said though he was not offered any film on Ganguly, he is confident that a biopic on the cricketing icon would be special.
"Dada is a living legend, not just here but around the world. The biopic on him will be very special. Unfortunately, I was not offered this film. Don't know if the makers of the film are still writing the script.
"For 11 years, I have been working on a biopic of Kishore Kumar, the story written by Anurag Basu. I am hoping that is going to be my next biopic." Asked about the blockbuster performance of "Pathaan", which has earned more than Rs 1,000 crore at the box office, the actor said the spy drama's success has given a boost to the Hindi film industry.
"What Pathaan has managed to do, the film industry needed it. Very happy and grateful that 'Pathaan' has done that. And I think Shah Rukh Khan deserves all the success for 'Pathaan'. I have seen him as an actor, I have been able to work with him several times. He gave so much to this industry. I am very proud of him," he added.
Asked if switching over to a comedy is more relaxing and unwinding for an actor as compared to films with far more serious content, Kapoor said, "I feel the rom-com genre is very hard. You don't really have a character there to hide behind, you have to reflect on your personality." The actor, who is sporting a lean look for "Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar", also spoke about the hard work that goes into showing off a chiselled body on the screen.
"Every actor showing abs on screen is a very sad person, he does not have anything to eat for three months, so that he can achieve some abs," he said.
About some of his movies turning super hits and some others flops, he said "every movie has its own destiny, you cannot label it. I am happy 'Brahmastra: Part One' which was released in 2022 and was in making for several years has been such a hit. We still have part two and three left. And I am excited for that." Reflecting on the hits and misses in his career of over 15 years, the actor said it is important to talk about one's failures and own them up.
"In my career of over 15 years, there have been around 18 films-- some of which have been successful and some others failures, commercially. As somebody from very early age, I am used to what is success and what is failure.... Failure always taught you something about yourself and it is very important to own your failures, to talk about your failures. I am very happy speaking about failures," he said.
Asked which Bengali director he would love to work with, Kapoor said "Sujoy Ghosh, Shoojit Sircar....I love their works." As the reporter went on naming Aniruddha Roy Choudhury, Srijit Mukherji, he said "Yes, yes.. everyone.. In fact, not only Bengali directors....it can be a director from other states as long it is a good story and a good character for me." Asked about the trolling that celebrities face on social media, the actor joked, "I am officially not on social media. I love to troll. I troll all my friends. It is said in jest, but sometimes trolls are below the belt." "If they (fans) like us, they shower us with love. If not, they troll... eventually it is their money," he added.
About his experience of Kolkata, Kapoor said, "I had shot parts of 'Barfi' here. Kolkata is one of the few cities in India which is very rich in culture. People here are very different from the rest. I love food. I savoured delicacies like Sorshe Maachh (mustered fish) which was topped by 'misti doi' (sweet curd). Kolkata is one of my favourite cities."
(PTI)
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.