Actress Sobhita Dhulipala credits Dev Patel's Monkey Man for changing her life. She opened up about her journey in the entertainment industry and the "idea of a mainstream commercial film star" in India.
When asked whether Monkey Man changed her life, she told Deadline, “Would it release at all? Where? Who would release it? I had no idea it would someday be birthed in such a beautiful way," she said. "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans."
Dhulipala's choice of roles reflects this mindset. She was born in the South Indian state of Andhra Pradesh and followed the professional route that leads from beauty pageants to acting, as Priyanka Chopra, Aishwarya Rai, and others have. She dropped out of corporate law school to represent India in Miss Earth 2013, and then made her acting debut in famed filmmaker Anurag Kashyap's psychological crime thriller 'Raman Raghav 2.0'.
“I feel like I've been seen as someone who's more 'alternative', for the lack of a better word," said Dhulipala.
"In India, there's the conventional idea of a mainstream commercial film star where they love you because you entertain and give them escape, but you're not really accountable as an actor to stand for anything," she explained.
"I guess my expectation from a different kind of actor who does films that reach my heart and travel with me would be somehow more personal, and that is a bit of a niche," she added.
Although she has acted in various Telugu, Malayalam, and Tamil films, her most well-known role before Monkey Man was that of wedding planner Tara Khanna in Made In Heaven.
Even before these roles were announced, Dhulipala auditioned for the part of Sita in Monkey Man, Dev Patel's debut directorial endeavour. After an exhaustive audition procedure, she was cast in the part in 2019, and the filming took place on an Indonesian island during a lockdown. Jordan Peele co-produced the picture, which took another four years to distribute internationally.
The global attention is somewhat new for Dhulipala, who describes herself as an introvert, comfortable "living under a rock because it's moist and cozy". "Often my response to social life is to sort of withdraw, so when I have to speak about myself or my journey, I'm just like, 'Uh, so I've been alive, and um, I got typhoid last year, I don't know'," she added. "Do I have anything special to add?"
In an era where streaming has propelled country-specific actresses into the forefront, Dhulipala's trajectory has been distinct from those of predecessors such as Priyanka Chopra and Deepika Padukone. For starters, she has worked in multiple Indian film sectors, not only in Bollywood. She recalled a panel discussion with her co-stars in the Hindi versions of 'The Night Manager'. The moderator posed a question that alluded to the fact that she was South Indian yet worked in the North Indian Bollywood industry.
"I think the host was just being cheeky, but I don't know - when I go to another country, I'm Indian. When I'm in India, I'm South Indian. Within South India I don't speak Malayalam or Tamil, I speak Telugu. But then again, I'm not from Telangana, I'm from Andhra Pradesh," she said, zooming in on regional specificities.
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.