Bollywood star Ranveer Singh on Friday praised his filmmaker-friend Rohit Shetty for offering him the opportunity to shine in diverse films, be it comedy or drama.
After his successful outings with "Simmba" and "Sooryavanshi", Singh has once again collaborated with Shetty for the upcoming comedy "Cirkus".
He said the movie fulfilled his dream of working with comedy giants like Johnny Lever and Sanjay Mishra.
"For the past 15 years, the most loved comedy in Hindi cinema is ‘Golmaal’. I have been waiting for 15 years to be part of a film like this and it is a dream come true to work with genius talents like Sanjay Mishra, Johnny Lever, and all our senior actors.
"Rohit sir always fulfils my dream, he was the first one to present me as a cop and now he made me do comedy. To make the audience laugh, we have made this film so that they forget all their worries,” Singh told reporters at the trailer launch press conference of “Cirkus”.
The 37-year-old actor said his equation with Shetty goes beyond work as he considers him an elder brother.
The “83” star said he has been a fan of Shetty’s movies and when he first got the opportunity to team up with him on the 2018 action-drama “Simmba”, it was a huge deal.
"Our collaboration is very special. We say, director-actor duo, but this is beyond work. He is like my big brother that I have been blessed with. I wanted to be adopted by Rohit Shetty’s family and that has happened,” he said.
The film is based on William Shakespeare's classic play 'The Comedy of Errors', which revolves around two sets of identical twins, who were accidentally separated at birth.
Calling Singh one of the most hardworking artists from the industry, Shetty said he is fascinated by the energy and dedication of the actor.
Singh thinks about the film all the time, the director said, recalling an incident when he made "Simmba" with the actor.
"He was to get married and we had to finish shooting ‘Simmba’ on time. We worked 20 hours a day and his energy level and dedication remains the same throughout the day,” the director said.
“Cirkus” also stars Pooja Hegde, Jaqueline Fernandez, Varun Sharma, Siddhartha Jadhav, Johnny Lever, Sanjay Mishra and Vrajesh Hirjee, among others.
“Cirkus” is set to arrive in theatres on December 23. The movie is produced by Rohit Shetty Picturez and presented by T-Series.
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.