Suniel Shetty recently met Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and urged him to help the industry get rid of the 'Boycott Bollywood' trend.
On Thursday, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath met members of the Bollywood fraternity in Mumbai, Suniel Shetty, Subhash Ghai, Jackie Shroff, Rajkumar Santoshi, Manmohan Shetty, singer Kailash Kher, and Boney Kapoor were in attendance. During the discussion, Suniel Shetty put forward some of the grievances before the Chief Minister.
He said, "Hashtag 'BoycottBollywood' can stop with your help. It's important to convey that we've done good work. There can be one rotten apple but 99 percent of us don't indulge in any wrongdoing. We've to change this perception. If you take lead and also talk to PM, it will make a difference."
The hashtag 'Boycott Bollywood' started trending after actor Sushant Singh Rajput's demise. However, in 2022, netizens reignited the trend before the release of many films like 'Laal Singh Chaddha', 'Liger', 'Brahmastra', and 'Raksha Bandhan'. The trend affected the box-office business of some of the films.
Right before the release of 'Laal Singh Chaddha,' Twitter users started trending the hashtag #BoycottLaalSinghChaddha, asking people to not watch the movie. At first, it looked harmless, just a group of trolls creating some hysteria around the film, however, when the film was declared a box office flop, people realised the seriousness.
Some Twitter users went through the archives and dug up Aamir's controversial "India's growing intolerance" statement and circulated it on the micro-blogging site. Some of Kareena's controversial statements from the past also surfaced online.
Films like 'Liger', and 'Brahmastra' were also called out by many for boycotting however, 'Brahmastra' did very good business at the box office, emerging as one of the highest-grossing films of 2022.
Talking about Yogi Adityanath, he welcomed the film fraternity to Uttar Pradesh saying that the contribution of the Indian cinema in giving a direction to society is valuable
Yogi Adityanath said, "I am delighted to witness the interest of the cinema fraternity in Uttar Pradesh. UP received Special Mention Award as Most Film Friendly State at the 64th National Film Festival and Most Film Friendly State at the 68th Film Festival in 2020 due to your efforts. The state also received an award in the International Film Festival in Goa (2021) and in Mumbai in 2022 as well."
"Small towns have also been connected with big metros. Today 9 airports are active. Airports in Chitrakoot and facility of air connectivity will also be provided in Sonbhadra and other places that were considered distant," he said.
"All of you have been witness to the changes that have taken place in Uttar Pradesh in the last 05-06 years. Uttar Pradesh, which was facing an identity crisis five years ago, is telling a new story of development today," Yogi added.
Highlighting the upcoming places of attraction in UP, Yogi said that the forts in Bundelkhand are associated with history.
"Along with security for film shooting, you will also get the facility of connectivity in UP. It is our responsibility to preserve and promote heritage," he said.
The Chief Minister said that the government is building Film City at such a place from where the distance of Mathura-Vrindavan by road can be covered easily.
Asia's biggest international airport Jewar is being built there.
He also called upon the directors, actors and producers to help the government in getting the state technologically advanced in the field.
The CM said that in the film policy of UP, arrangements will be made for a 50 per cent subsidy for the web series shot in the state and the government will work towards giving a rebate of 25 per cent on the cost for web films.
"We are going to set up a music institution in Hariharpur. To increase development, the vision of PM Modi, Film City will work to enhance the concept of 'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat'," he said.
Talking about the GIS that will be held in Lucknow from February 10 to 12, Yogi said, "Huge investment is expected in the state. The state government will give all possible cooperation in terms of producing good films."
(ANI)
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.