All sorts of actors abound in the entertainment industry. Some get to portray a wide variety of characters on the screen, whereas others do not get to prove their versatility so often simply because they have been pigeonholed by the industry and the producers do not want to take any risk by casting them in new characters.
Sunil Grover, who is a popular name in Indian households thanks to his hugely popular characters Gutthi, Dr Mashoor Gulati, and Rinku Devi, has been trying to break free of his image as a comedian for some time now, and with Amazon Prime Video’s streaming show Tandav (2021), he proved he can pull off any character with elan.
"In TV, when a character works, you end up doing it for years. In a long story format, you have to set a graph for your role. I am trying to get used to this. It is a new world for me. However, I enjoy both worlds. I feel grateful for the experiences that I am getting in this lifetime. I am enjoying this new phase,” Grover tells a newswire.
He goes on to add that he is glad the audience accepted him in diverse roles despite his long-held image of a comedy actor. “What I did earlier was not planned because I started with something else and I went into something else. I come with so much comedic baggage of so many years. It is challenging to break that sort of image. The fear of not being accepted in certain roles... But people have accepted me and I feel happy about it,” he says.
Though Grover was ready to take a leap of faith and leave behind his image of a comedy actor, the thought that whether or not the audience would accept him was always there at the back of his mind.
“When Vishal (Bhardwaj) gave me Pataakha (2018), I was not prepared or planning to do something like that. Ditto for Bharat (2019). Director Ali Abbas Zafar and the team thought of me. Then Tandav came,” he said.
The actor is presently waiting for the premiere of his next streaming show Sunflower and he hopes that his tryst with versatility continues with his new offering as well. The actor plays a quirky character called Sonu in the upcoming series billed as a situational crime-comedy, “Sonu has many moods and shades. Sometimes he is a loner, sometimes he is out in public. It was a challenge but it got sorted in some time," he adds.
Directed by Vikas Bahl and Rahul Sengupta, Sunflower also features Ranvir Shorey, Ashish Vidyarthi, Girish Kulkarni, and Mukul Chadda on the cast. It starts streaming on ZEE5 from June 11.
Keep visiting this space over and again for more updates and reveals from the world of entertainment.
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.