Acclaimed filmmaker SS Rajamouli on Thursday unveiled the trailer of his much-awaited film RRR, starring Ram Charan, NTR Jr, Ajay Devgn, and Alia Bhatt. The entire team, excluding Charan, came together to launch the trailer of the film at a multiplex in Mumbai.
Rajamouli, who shot to international fame with the riotous success of Baahubali: The Beginning and Baahubali: The Conclusion (2017), said during the press conference that he is aware there will be comparisons between the new film and his previous Baahubali franchise but he is not burdened by the audiences’ expectations.
“There are a lot of people obviously expecting the same kind of film after Baahubali. But we can't keep making the same films again and again. I am aware of the expectations but I will be banking more on the story, the characters, the relationship between the characters, and the emotional high we get while watching them. Also, any section of the audience that comes to the theatres (based on) the trailer or previous track records or hero's images (that) will only help to bring them back to theatres. But the moment they come, then within two-three minutes into the film will be watching what the film (RRR) is and not what we did before," Rajamouli told reporters.
The director, also known for blockbusters like Magadheera (2009) and Eega (2012), believes the fans are only looking for an experience similar to Baahubali from the world of RRR. “If you look deeply, the audience is not waiting for another Baahubali, they are waiting for the kind of experience they had in the film, the kind of emotion they felt in the film that is what they want because they don't have that much of analysis to tell you. So simply they say we want another Baahubali. But what people want is the same kind of emotion and high,” he added.
For RRR, the director has roped in Devgn and Bhatt, who are making their debut in the Telugu film industry. Rajamouli said it is just a “mental block” that has demarcated actors according to their region, which shouldn't have been the case.
“It is just a mental block that North actors have to act only in Hindi films and South actors have to act in movies in South Indian languages. We cast them because they're great actors. Acting doesn't have a language. Once we remove the mental block, then we have a big area of actors, who you can approach. I'm not an actor but I'm pretty sure they all want to do challenging characters. If they have more directors from different languages, approaching them for characters, they will also be interested. In the future, you'll be seeing more collaborations across languages. If you believe in your core storytelling, you don't need to worry about languages. Whether it's Telugu, Tamil, Hindi, or any other language, it doesn't matter. Language is just a medium of communication. Words are just small bridges. In cinema, visuals tell you the story. When the language doesn't matter, you bank on the best actor who suits the role,” he said.
Produced by DVV Entertainments, RRR will arrive on January 7, 2022.
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.