Yesterday, we had reported a story revealing that the makers of the much-awaited Sanjay Dutt biopic might miss its March 28th release date as a major chunk of its post-production work is yet to be wrapped up. And today, director Rajkumar Hirani himself confirmed that his directorial will now release on 29th June 2018. The director took to Twitter to make the announcement.
The Sanjay Dutt biopic stars Ranbir Kapoor in the lead role and is one of the hotly anticipated movies of 2018. Ranbir, who was last seen in Jagga Jasoos, plays the protagonist in the biographical film while seasoned actors Paresh Rawal and Manisha Koirala are seen as Dutt's parents Sunil Dutt and Nargis respectively.
If you keep yourself updated with all the happenings in Bollywood, you know that this is not the first time when the release date of the biopic has been deferred. Earlier, it was slated to release during Diwali 2017 but soon was shifted to 30th March 2018. And now, the makers have locked 29th June 2018 as the new release date for the film.
Produced by Vidhu Vinod Chopra, the biopic will now clash with Diljit Dosanjh and Taapsee Pannu's Soorma, which is also scheduled to release on 29th June. It will be interesting to see if the makers of the sports biopic opt for a new release date or they lock horns with Rajkumar Hirani's film.
Apart from Ranbir Kapoor, Manisha Koirala and Paresh Rawal, the Sanjay Dutt biopic also stars Dia Mirza, Sonam Kapoor, Anushka Sharma, Tabu and Vicky Kaushal in key roles. The official title of the movie is yet to be unveiled.
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.