A few weeks ago, there were reports that Sonakshi Sinha, Riteish Deshmukh, and Saqib Saleem will be seen in a horror-comedy titled Kakuda, and on Tuesday, the movie went on the floors.
Kakuda is directed by Aditya Sarpotdar and produced by Ronnie Screwvala under his banner RSVP. The production house took to Twitter to make an official announcement about the film, and also revealed that the shooting has kickstarted.
They tweeted, “Triple trouble on the way! Get ready for a spooktacular - laughter riot with our homegrown direct to digital film, #Kakuda! Shoot begins today @AdityaSarpotdar @Riteishd #SonakshiSinha #SaqibSaleem @RonnieScrewvala @iavinashdwivedi @gharkaachirag @nonabains.”
Kakuda is a horror comedy and it will be getting a direct-to-digital release. However, the makers have not yet revealed which streaming platform it will be released.
Aditya Sarpotdar has earlier directed many Marathi films including the Riteish Deshmukh starrer Mauli. So, Kakuda will be his second film with the actor.
Talking about other projects of Sonakshi Sinha, the actress will be seen in Bhuj: The Pride Of India, Bulbul Tarang, and Fallen (Series). Bhuj: The Pride Of India is slated to release on Disney+ Hotstar on 11th August 2021. Reportedly, she will also be seen in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Heera Mandi, however, there’s no official announcement about it.
Meanwhile, Saqib Saleem is awaiting the release of 83 in which he plays the role of Mohinder Amarnath. The movie was slated to release last year but was postponed due to the pandemic. The makers later decided to release it in June this year, but it was delayed once again due to the second wave of Covid-19. The new release date is not yet announced.
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.