By: Mohnish Singh
Starring Varun Dhawan and Kriti Sanon in lead roles, Maddock Films’ next Bhediya is nearing completion. The horror-comedy film, which went before cameras in mid-February in Arunachal Pradesh, is on its final leg of shoot.
A source close to the development informs a publication that Dhawan will wrap up shooting for his portion by next week. The team will then come together for a small patchwork in Mumbai at a later date.
“Varun, Kriti and the rest of the team had a great time shooting for the film in Arunachal Pradesh. They have already completed filming for 90 per cent of the movie, and a small patchwork portion will be done in Mumbai at a later date. Varun should be back in Mumbai by mid next week,” the source shares.
Filmmaker Amar Kaushik, who directed box-office hits Stree (2018) and Bala (2019), is directing Bhediya for Dinesh Vijan’s Maddock Films. In addition to Varun Dhawan and Kriti Sanon, the film also features Deepak Dobriyal and Abhishek Banerjee in important roles. Bhediya reunites Dhawan and Sanon after Rohit Shetty’s Dilwale (2015), co-starring Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol.
Aside from Bhediya, Varun Dhawan will also be seen in Dharma Productions’ Jug Jugg Jeeyo with Kiara Advani, Neetu Kapoor, and Anil Kapoor. He also has Sriram Raghavan’s Ekkis in the pipeline. The actor was last seen in Coolie No. 1 (2020) which had its premiere on Amazon Prime Video.
Kriti Sanon, on the other hand, has her plate full with multiple films from various genres. Mimi, Hum Do Hamare Do, Bachchan Pandey, Adipurush, and Ganapath are her upcoming projects which are currently at various stages of development. Buzz has it that her film Mimi, which is again a Maddock Films’ venture, may take a direct-to-digital route for release.
Keep visiting this space over and again for more updates and reveals from the world of entertainment.
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.