Shahid Kapoor is presently riding high on the humongous success of his latest film Kabir Singh (2019). The movie hit screens on 21st June and has been performing exceptionally well even after entering its fifth week. Also starring Kiara Advani in the lead role, Kabir Singh has already racked up approximately ₹ 273 crores at the domestic box-office and is expected to mint a few more cores before wrapping up its run.
For the uninitiated, Kabir Singh is an official remake of Telugu blockbuster Arjun Reddy (2017), starring Vijay Deverakonda and Shalini Pandey in central characters. After the earth-shattering success of Kabir Singh, Shahid Kapoor has reportedly been offered to star in a yet another Hindi remake of a Telugu film. Titled Jersey (2019), the blockbuster film starred Nani and Shraddha Srinath in lead roles. The project is constantly in the news because, as per reports, Shahid Kapoor has asked for a humongous ₹ 40 crore to headline it.
A source reveals to a popular entertainment portal, “After his intense performance in Kabir Singh, it would be really interesting to see him in another role, obviously in a completely different avatar and role. Dharma Productions will be making this remake of Jersey, which is a unique cricket film that wooed the Telugu masses, and they felt that Shahid fit the role quite well.”
Dharma Productions acquired the remake rights of Jersey some time ago. The same production house has also bought the remake rights of Vijay Deverakonda’s yet-to-be-released film Dear Comrade. The Telugu movie is set to enter cinemas on 26th July.
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.