By: Mohnish Singh
Actor Randeep Hooda, who can be currently seen in Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai (2021), is now looking forward to his much-awaited streaming show Inspector Avinash. While Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai starred him as a drug lord, Inspector Avinash sees him in the role of a Police officer fighting for the law and justice.
Hooda has played a cop several times before, but what makes his character in Inspector Avinash different is the fact that it is based on a real-life cop. Created by Neerraj Pathak, Inspector Avinash is a dramatic retelling of police officer Avinash Mishra’s efforts to tackle criminal activities in Uttar Pradesh.
And when you play someone who is still there, it requires extra efforts to slide into the skin of the character. From learning his accent and dialect to catching his demeanour, Randeep Hooda did not leave any stone unturned to create an authentic portrayal of Avinash Mishra.
Talking about the same, Hooda says, “One cannot sum up inspector Avinash Mishra’s life in just five episodes. I quite enjoyed working on long-format storytelling; a series is equivalent to four or five feature films. This format helps you explore more as an actor.”
The actor met the real-life hero before beginning work on the project. “I have played a cop in some movies. But for this project, I had to mirror Avinashji’s accent and dialect. So, I spent time with him. When we were shooting in Lucknow, he would be on the set every evening,” he says.
Aside from Randeep Hooda, Inspector Avinash also features Urvashi Rautela in an important role. The project hit the shooting floor in January in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. However, the second wave of the pandemic compelled the makers to put the shoot on hold for some time.
The show is being produced by Jio Studios and Gold Mountain Pictures.
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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.