According to reports, Amazon Prime Video has roped in six acclaimed directors of Indian cinema to work on a romantic comedy. These filmmakers include Vishal Bhardwaj, Hansal Mehta, Alankrita Shrivastava, Shonali Bose, Anjali Menon, and Dhruv Sehgal who will direct six unique stories about the joys and tribulations of love.
The project is said to be the Indian adaptation of Amazon Prime Video’s hit American anthology, Modern Love. Developed by John Carney, the series was inspired by the real-life personal essays from the popular The New York Times weekly column of the same name. The Indian adaptation, however, will tell original love stories set in India. The makers will only retain the theme and title from the American anthology.
The Indian anthology will feature fresh stories taking place in different parts of India. The makers are presently busy casting for the project that explores love in its multitude of forms - including sexual, romantic, familial, platonic, and self-love.
Preparations for taking the show off the ground are in full swing. The team is looking at beginning production soon in Mumbai. Rangita Pritish Nandy, who bankrolled Amazon Prime Video's Four More Shots Please and Four More Shots Please 2, is producing the anthology under her banner Pritish Nandy Communications. It will be her second anthology for Amazon Prime Video after last year’s Unpaused which was set and filmed in the times of the Covid-19 lockdown.
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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.