By: Mohnish Singh
According to reports, Bollywood star Riteish Deshmukh is planning to produce a comic-caper under his production house Mumbai Film Company. Apart from bankrolling the project, Deshmukh will also play the male lead in it alongside Tamannaah Bhatia.
From what we hear, Deshmukh has been working on the project for quite some time now. Not much else is known about the forthcoming venture at the moment apart from the fact that it is being described as an out-and-out laugh riot.
Sharing more details, a source close to the development tells a portal, “This one is a laugh riot which Riteish and his team has been working on for a while. As of now, the plan is to make it a direct to OTT release. Besides Ritesh, Tamannaah Bhatia will also feature in the film. She has liked the script but is yet to sign on the dotted line.”
If Bhatia goes on to sign the film, it will reunite her with Deshmukh after a long gap of 7 years. The duo was last seen together in Sajid Khan’s 2014 comedy film Humshakals, which also featured Saif Ali Khan, Esha Gupta, and Bipasha Basu.
Meanwhile, Tamannaah Bhatia is busy shooting for her Telugu projects Gurthunda Seethakalam, F3, and the yet-to-be-titled remake of the Bollywood film Andhadhun (2018). The actress recently wrapped up the Telugu film Seetimaarr and Hindi film Bole Chudiyan.
She is also awaiting the release of her hugely anticipated Telugu film That Is Mahalakshmi, which is an official remake of the superhit Hindi film Queen (2014) starring Kangana Ranaut in the lead role.
Riteish Deshmukh, on the other hand, next stars in Bachchan Pandey. Produced by Sajid Nadiadwala under Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment, the film also stars Akshay Kumar, Kriti Sanon, Arshad Warsi, and Jacqueline Fernandez in important roles.
Keep visiting this space over and again for more updates and reveals from the world of entertainment.
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.