The nationwide lockdown in India, which came into force on March 25 in an attempt to combat the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic, put a grinding halt to shooting activities of films and television shows, but this does not seem to have any bearing on Shah Rukh Khan as the superstar has been making the most of the time by having approximately 18 script narrations.
According to reports, Khan will star in three or four of them and could produce some others as well. A leading publication quotes a source as saying, “These include scripts from Rajkumar Hirani, Siddharth Anand, Raj & DK, Atlee Kumar, Tigmanshu Dhulia, Amit Ravindrenath Sharma, Madhur Bhandarkar, Ali Abbas Zafar, Shimit Amin and Amar Kaushik. Some are films and the others are web shows. While no paperwork has been done and no final decisions have been taken, there are reports that an OTT major other than Netflix has sent feelers to King Khan to make content for them as well.”
News has it that South Indian filmmaker Atlee Kumar has offered Khan an action film, while Rajkumar Hirani has locked a script based on the topic of migration. Award-winning filmmaker Dhulia has been in touch with the superstar to produce a film on Shiv Kumar Patel. On the other hand, Ali Abbas Zafar has been in talks with Khan for a sports biopic. Amin has approached him for a web series on Girmitiyas.
Meanwhile, Shah Rukh Khan is presently awaiting the premiere of Class of ’83. The film has been produced by his production house Red Chillies Entertainment for Netflix. It stars Bobby Deol in the lead role.
Keep visiting this space for more updates.
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.