Megastar Amitabh Bachchan could not be happier as his grandson Agastya Nanda is set to enter the cinematic world with the film The Archies.
On Tuesday, director Zoya Akhtar hosted a special screening of The Archies in Mumbai, where the who's who of Bollywood marked their presence. Big B, too, came to the screening and turned out to be the biggest cheerleader of Agastya.
Not only Big B but his wife Jaya Bachchan, son Abhishek Bachchan, daughter Shweta Bachchan, daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, son-in-law Nikhil Nanda, granddaughters Navya and Aaradhya also attended the screening.
The whole family arrived in style and happily posed for the paps on the red carpet.
Apart from Agastya, Navya and Jaya Bachchan, the whole family twinned in black. Big B and Abhishek wore a black suit. Aishwarya stood out in a stunning blazer dress. Aaryadhya also opted for a blazer-styled dress. Shweta looked gorgeous in a black and golden gown. Jaya Bachchan looked elegant in an off-white ensemble.
Agastya, who is one of the lead actors in 'The Archies', chose to wear a blue velvet blazer paired with pants. His sister looked exquisite in a red gown.
Before attending the premiere, Agastya's mother Shweta posted a special picture of Agastya with Abhishek and Amitabh Bachchan.
In the picture, Abhishek is seen helping Agastya get ready for his big day.
Shweta captioned the post with a white heart emoji.
The post has been flooded with congratulatory messages for Agastya.
"Our boy begins his journey today," filmmaker Karan Johar commented.
Actor Sonali Bendre dropped a string of red heart emojis in the comment section.
The screening was also attended by Shah Rukh Khan and his family, Ranbir Kapoor, Karan Johar, Neetu Kapoor, Hrithik Roshan, Saba Azad, Rekha, Shilpa Shetty, Ibrahim Khan, Sonali Bendre, Atlee, Ranveer Singh, Katrina Kaif and Janhvi Kapoor among others.
Helmed by Zoya Akhtar, The Archies also marks the debut of SRK and Gauri Khan's daughter Suhana Khan, late Sridevi and producer Boney Kapoor's daughter Khushi Kapoor.
The film is a coming-of-age musical, which follows the lives of Archie, Betty, Veronica, Jughead, Reggie, Ethel, and Dilton who will take audiences to the fictional hilly town of Riverdale. The film explores friendship, freedom love, heartbreak, and rebellion.
The film will be out on Netflix on December 7.
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.