By: Mohnish Singh
Vijay Deverakonda first soared into the stratosphere of success with his Telugu film Arjun Reddy (2017), which was later remade in Hindi as Kabir Singh (2019) with Shahid Kapoor and Kiara Advani essaying lead roles. His popularity has, thereafter, been on the rise irrespective of his films’ performance at the box-office.
After creating a special place in the hearts of South Indian audiences, Deverakonda is now gearing up to set his foot in Bollywood and expand his fanbase. The young heartthrob is making his Bollywood debut with the pan-India film Liger, jointly produced by Karan Johar, Puri Jagannadh, and Charmy Kaur.
The latest update on the upcoming project is that Vijay Deverakonda will speak his own Hindi lines in the film, no matter how much effort it requires. We hear that not only Deverakonda but producer Karan Johar has also decided to stick to the actor’s own voice for the Hindi version of the actioner.
A source close to the development informs a publication, “Southern superstars like Rajinikanth and Ram Charan Teja often make the mistake of getting a professional dubbing artiste to do their Hindi dialogues. That is the worst thing an actor can do to his career in Hindi cinema. Vijay Deverakonda won’t make that mistake.”
Apart from working on Liger, the Dear Comrade (2019) actor is also busy brushing up his Hindi to avoid what the iconic French director Jean-Luc Godard described as half a performance when we see one actor and we hear another.
Liger also stars Bollywood diva Ananya Panday in the lead role. It will mark her foray into Telugu cinema. Showering praises on her co-star Vijay Deverakonda, the actress had earlier said, “I have yet to meet someone so grounded and humble despite being such a huge star. He is kind and soft-spoken.”
While Deverakonda is brushing up his Hindi for Liger, Panday is learning the Telugu language for the movie to do justice to her character.
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.