Toplined by Sooraj Pancholi, the upcoming Hindi film Satellite Shankar has locked a new release date. The movie was initially slated to enter theatres on 6 September. However, it was then shifted to 15 November, alongside Sidharth Malhotra, Riteish Deshmukh and Tara Sutaria’s Marjaavaan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Athiya Shetty’s Motichoor Chaknachoor. Satellite Shankar will now arrive in cinemas on 8th November 2019.
The film marks Sooraj Pancholi’s return to the silver screen after four years. The newcomer made his acting debut with Salman Khan Films’ Hero in 2015. Despite being promoted on a huge scale, the movie did not fare well at the box-office. After Hero, Pancholi was hardly offered any work.
In 2018, the actor was roped in to headline Satellite Shankar. The film started rolling on 3 September 2018 in Kashmir and most of its portions were shot in North India in a 60-day schedule. It has been shot in 10 locations across the country.
Besides Sooraj Pancholi, Satellite Shankar also stars South Indian actress Megha Akash who is making her Bollywood debut. Pancholi plays an army officer in the film. Talking about his role, the actor had earlier said, "It puts a tremendous amount of pressure on me. Playing an Indian soldier on the silver screen is a big deal. Fortunately, I have the chance to interact with the soldiers and know about their experiences since they are a part of the cast. I was part of their workout sessions. Matching to the tempo of real soldiers is a feat.”
Satellite Shankar is produced by Murad Khetani, Ashwin Varde, and SCIPL. Written by Vishal Vijay Kumar and directed by Irfan Kamal, the film is set to hit the marquee on 8th November 2019.
It will now clash with Neil Nitin Mukesh's thriller Bypass Road and Ujda Chaman. It will also compete with Ayushmann Khurrana, Bhumi Pednekar and Yami Gautam's Bala which drops on 7 November.
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.