Starring Tollywood heartthrob Vijay Deverakonda and Ananya Panday in lead roles, filmmaker Puri Jagannadh’s bilingual film has completed 40 days of shooting. But if you think that the upcoming action entertainer has been officially titled Fighter, then think again.
According to reports, the hugely anticipated film is not titled Fighter. The makers are expected to lock the official title soon. Meanwhile, the team is busy filming in Mumbai at a brisk pace with cuts made to key scenes.
A source close to the film tells a publication, “The shoot is currently going on in Mumbai and the unit is canning crucial scenes which are filmed on the lead cast which includes Vijay Deverakonda, Ananya Pandey, Ramya Krishna and Ronit Roy.”
Adding further, the source says that the makers are not compromising on the scale of the film. “Given that it is a pan-India release and the first collaboration between Puri Jagannadh and Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions, they are doing everything on a grand scale and not compromising on the budget whatsoever,” the source says in conclusion.
The upcoming film is being jointly produced by Karan Johar, Puri Jagannadh and Charmy Kaur. It will mark the Hindi film debut of Vijay Deverakonda who became a force to reckon with after the massive success of Arjun Reddy (2017).
Ananya Panday, on the other hand, will be making her Tollywood debut with the film. The actress, who made her silver screen debut with Dharma Productions’ Student of the Year 2 (2019), is also gearing up for her next film which will be directed by Shakun Batra. The untitled movie also stars Deepika Padukone and Siddhant Chaturvedi in lead roles.
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.