Actor Sidharth Malhotra, who is currently riding high on the roaring success of his latest film Shershaah (2021), has a slew of more exciting projects under his belt. One of them being RSVP Movies’ much-awaited spy thriller Mission Majnu, directed by Shantanu Bagchi. The film, which wrapped up filming a couple of days ago, also marks well-known south Indian actress Rashmika Mandanna’s debut in Bollywood.
During many of her recent interactions with the media, Mandanna never forgot to mention her great admiration for her co-star in Mission Majnu. Now, Malhotra has also opened up about his equation with the actress.
Reacting to her admiration for him, the Student of the Year (2012) actor said, “Well, she has been too kind. We have had a wonderful working experience. I have seen her first film (Kirik Party); I saw it many years ago. I think it was meant to be for her, for our film to be her first Hindi film. She worked really hard to get the dialect in Urdu. She has very expressive eyes and a very expressive face and I had read about that before. Her fans keep writing about it and I could see it on the camera, and we just finished shooting. So, I think Rashmika is going to be one person to look out for in Hindi next year whenever we release Mission Majnu.”
Apart from Mission Majnu, Rashmika Mandanna will also be seen in director Vikas Bahl’s next directorial Goodbye. Produced by Balaji Motion Pictures and Reliance Entertainment, the film also stars acting great Amitabh Bachchan in the lead role. Goodbye will be Mandanna's second Bollywood film, after Mission Majnu.
Keep visiting this space over and again for more updates and reveals from the world of entertainment.
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.