Shriya Saran, who has been missing from films for quite some time now, has a couple of exciting projects at her plate, which are currently at various stages of development. The talented actress, who has proved her mettle in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi movies, has added yet another exciting project to her resume.
Saran has been roped in to play an important character in acclaimed filmmaker S. S. Rajamouli’s next magnum opus, RRR: Roudram Ranam Rudhiram. The actress will be seen opposite superstar Ajay Devgn who appears in an extended cameo in the big-ticket film.
Confirming the development, the actress informs a popular entertainment magazine, “I have an emotional role in the film that comes during the flashback episodes. I will be shooting with Ajay Devgn for the role in RRR. (I) hope to join the sets once the Coronavirus lockdown gets lifted and international flights resume.”
RRR will reunite Shriya Saran with Ajay Devgn after a gap of five years. The two actors were last seen together in director Nishikant Kamat’s drama thriller Drishyam (2015), which turned out to be a huge success, earning over ₹100 crore at the domestic box-office. Though the duo does not play the lead pair in RRR, it will be interesting to see them share the screen space once again.
RRR, which is being made on a massive budget of approximately ₹400 crore, features Tollywood stars Ram Charan and Jr NTR in lead roles. Apart from Ajay Devgn, Bollywood actress Alia Bhatt also features in an extended cameo in the much-awaited film.
RRR is poised for its theatrical release on 8th January, 2021. Apart from Telugu, it will hit screens with the dubbed versions in Tamil, Hindi, Kannada, and Malayalam languages also.
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.