ZEE5 is set to premiere the upcoming psychological thriller Forensic, starring Vikrant Massey and Radhika Apte in lead roles. The Hindi remake of the Malayalam film of the same name, Forensic is directed by Vishal Furia, whose Chhorii (2021) received a great response from the audience.
A Mini Films and Soham Rockstar Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. Production, Forensic also stars Prachi Desai, Vindu Dara Singh, and Rohit Roy in important roles.
Radhika Apte will be returning to the screen after a year-long break and will be seen portraying the character of Megha Sharma, a police officer in the small sleepy town of Mussoorie. Whereas Vikrant Massey will be returning to ZEE5 Global after his last successful releases, 14 Phere and Love Hostel. He will be essaying the role of Johnny Khanna, a Forensic Officer who is the best at his job. Together, Johnny and Megha will be chasing the vicious criminal who turns their lives upside down.
Archana Anand, Chief Business Officer, ZEE5 Global said, “While we offer the largest range of genres across languages for our audiences, we have seen a particularly strong uptake for thriller and suspense stories. We are happy to now add to our library this Vikrant Massey and Radhika Apte starrer Forensic, a psychological thriller with unique character arcs that will take our viewers through a myriad of emotions.”
Producer Deepak Mukut said, “Forensic is one of those projects where we just knew that we had to make it. The film is a complete edge-of-the-seat thriller that will keep you hooked. Vishal Furia is an amazing director and there couldn't have been a better person to lead this ship. Vikrant Massey and Radhika Apte are talents that need no introduction, so the project got all the more exciting with their addition and they have done tremendous work in Forensic. ZEE5 has given a platform to many unique and important stories, and it has a wide reach globally so we are excited to be presenting Forensic on this platform. The audiences are in for a thrilling ride with this one.”
Producers Mansi Bagla and Varun Bagla said, “Hindi cinema has seen many films on police, army, RAW agents but we have never seen films on Forensic Officers. Forensic is a very unique film where we have given a lot of attention to details, and we truly believe that this film will change the way we look at crime investigation thrillers. The audience on the other hand will be delighted to see Vikrant and Radhika together for the first time on screen. Both are extremely talented actors, and they hold amazing chemistry on screen.”
Director Vishal Furia said, “A milligram of DNA can reveal the identity of a person. Forensic is a taut thriller with twists that will surprise and facts that will shock the viewers. With accomplished actors Vikrant and Radhika at the top of their game and with amazing producers Mansi Bagla, Varun Bagla, and Deepak Mukut, I have managed to give my best to ensure a thrilling ride throughout.”
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.