After facing numerous delays due to the coronavirus pandemic, SS Rajamouli’s hotly-anticipated film RRR finally found its way into cinemas on March 25. As expected, the period drama has been smashing old records and creating new ones at the worldwide box office with each passing day.
Starring Ram Charan, NTR Jr, Ajay Devgn, and Alia Bhatt in important roles, the big screen extravaganza has set new benchmarks by raking in a humongous amount of approximately £50,180,848 worldwide.
While RRR has hit the box office worldwide like a tsunami, it has also set new records in the Indian film industry. The pre-promotional city tours across India resulted in the film creating huge buzz and anticipation amongst the viewers across the globe. Appreciation and love pouring in from fans all over have made it the best trending film post-pandemic.
Touted to be the widest release ever, RRR is also credited to be the biggest Sunday opener in Hindi markets post-pandemic, again re-establishing Rajamouli’s supremacy in the Hindi speaking belt. Not just that, the film has emerged to be a non-holiday biggest weekend opener in the pre-and post-pandemic era.
With a pan-India cast, the visual spectacle has brought back the glory of Indian cinema thereby bringing the audience back to cinema halls across pan-India all languages. Most importantly, Rajamouli has successfully broken his own box office record, as RRR has surpassed the collections of his biggest money-spinner Bahubali: The Conclusion (2017) worldwide.
The Telugu-language period action-drama film is produced by D. V. V. Danayya of DVV Entertainments.
RRR was released worldwide on 25th March 2022.
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.