According to reports, Tamannaah Bhatia is onboard to headline Maddock Films’ upcoming streaming show Yaari Dosti. Producer Dinesh Vijan is set to bankroll the show for streaming media giant Amazon Prime Video.
Arunima Sharma has been tapped to direct the slice-of-life series. Aside from Bhatia, Yaari Dosti will also feature Aashim Gulati in an important role. If all goes well, the show will hit the shooting floor in September.
Spilling some more beans, a source close to the development informs a publication, “Yaari Dosti marks the web space directorial debut of Arunima Sharma. She has previously worked as an associate director for Dinesh Vijan productions like Cocktail (2012), Finding Fanny (2014), and Angrezi Medium (2017). As suggested by the title, the series is centred around the theme of friendship.”
Tamannaah Bhatia can be currently seen in Disney+ Hotstar’s streaming show November Story, which marks her foray into the digital space. Her performance has received positive response from critics and audiences alike. She is now waiting for the release of her upcoming films Seetimaarr, Maestro, Gurthunda Seethakalam, F3, Bole Chudiyan, and That Is Mahalakshmi.
Aashim Gulati, on the other hand, has done a few popular shows on Indian television, including Karn Sangini and Dil Sambhal Jaa Zara. He debuted in Bollywood with Anubhav Sinha’s Tum Bin 2 (2016).
Amazon Prime Video, which is currently riding high on the huge success of The Family Man 2 (2021) and Sherni (2021), has an interesting line-up of upcoming projects. Its next major offering is going to be the Farhan Akhtar-starrer Toofaan, which will soon be followed by shows like Inside Edge 3 and Mumbai Diaries 26/11. Buzz has it that Maddock Films’ production venture Mimi, starring Kriti Sanon in the lead role, is also gearing up for a premiere on the same streaming media platform.
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.