Gone are the days when two leading Bollywood stars would happily share the screen space together. Today, every actor wants to play safe and do solo projects. However, Akshay Kumar is possibly one of the very few actors in Bollywood, who has always shown his interest in doing multi-starrers.
In fact, his forthcoming release Housefull 4 is also a multi-starrer, co-starring Bobby Deol, Riteish Deshmukh, Kriti Sanon, Kriti Kharbanda and Pooja Hegde in equally important roles. When the audience goes to watch the film in cinemas on 25th October, they will also see the trailer of Salman Khan’s Dabangg 3 attached to it.
With the trailer of Dabangg 3 being attached to the prints of Housefull 4, producer Sajid Nadiadwala has expressed his desire to reunite the two Bollywood superstars for an upcoming project. Khan and Kumar have previously headlined Sajid Nadiadwala’s 2004 blockbuster Mujhse Shaadi Karogi and Jaan-e-Mann (2007)
Talking about the reunion of the two superstars, Nadiadwala told a publication, “I would be more than happy to get them together on screen. However, all of us are busy with other commitments. Once we are free and ready, we would definitely want to create something big and magical,” said Sajid.
The producer, who has a number of successful films to his credit, went on to add, “If we come together again, it is going to be one big party on the sets.”
Meanwhile, Sajid Nadiadwala will soon collaborate with megastar Salman Khan on Kick 2, a sequel to their 2014 blockbuster Kick also starring Jacqueline Fernandez in the lead role. The producer is also bankrolling Akshay Kumar’s Bachchan Pandey set to release in 2020.
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.