By: Mohnish Singh
When several pictures of Sidharth Malhotra and Diana Penty shooting together in Goa surfaced on social media a couple of weeks ago, fans were curious to know which project the two were working on. Well, the secret is finally out. The duo is set to feature together in an upcoming music video titled Challon Ke Nishaan. Malhotra and Penty took to social media to drop the first-look poster of the new romantic song which has been directed by choreographer-director Bosco Leslie Martis.
Talking about the song, Sidharth Malhotra tells an entertainment portal, “It felt great to shoot outdoors after a while in Goa, use the scenic location and the vibe of the place. Direction by Bosco as always was seamless and creating this beautiful story with Diana was amazing. I am excited for everyone to see this song!”
Diana Penty is equally excited about the upcoming music video. Sharing her experience of working with Bosco and Sidharth, the actress tells the publication, “It was wonderful shooting for Challon Ke Nishaan. It is such a beautiful song and I hope the audience likes it as much as I do. Shooting with Sid and Bosco was really fun. They both have the knack of making everyone on set feel so at ease, that it honestly did not even feel like we were working! Here's hoping everyone enjoys the video as much as we enjoyed shooting it!”
Sidharth Malhotra, who was last seen in Marjaavaan (2019), next stars in Dharma Productions’ Shershaah, which is a biographical war drama based on the life of Kargil martyr Captain Vikram Batra. Directed by Vishnuvardhan, the much-awaited film also stars Kiara Advani. Malhotra is also gearing up to headline the Hindi remake of the super hit Tamil film Thadam (2019).
Diana Penty, on the other hand, is waiting for the release of her next film Shiddat. The Kunal Deshmukh directorial also stars Radhika Madan, Sunny Kaushal, and Mohit Raina in central characters.
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.