After the riotous success of Baahubali: The Beginning (2015) and Baahubali: The Conclusion (2017), filmmaker S. S. Rajamouli has become a force to reckon with. Film enthusiasts all over the world have been waiting for his next directorial offering, tentatively titled RRR, with bated breath.
Starring Telugu superstars Jr. NTR and Ram Charan in principal characters, RRR has been in news even before it mounted the shooting floor. When Rajamouli decided to sign Bollywood superstar Ajay Devgn and Alia Bhatt to play important cameos, it added more to the buzz of the film.
The team has been working on the project for over a year now. The latest update on the hugely anticipated movie is that the makers are gearing up to launch its motion poster and title logo in a couple of hours from now.
Confirming the development, Ajay Devgn took to Twitter and announced that the motion poster and title logo of the S. S. Rajamouli directorial RRR will be unveiled on Wednesday. “Happy to announce that the title logo and motion poster of RRR will be out tomorrow!” wrote the superstar.
Rajamouli said that the decision to drop the motion poster and title logo of the big-ticket film has been taken in an attempt to cheer up people who are currently confined to their homes in the wake of the Coronavirus outbreak.
“It is a time of global crisis. We wanted to do our bit in lifting up everyone’s spirits. We are launching the long overdue title logo with motion poster of RRR tomorrow. Though I cannot promise any specific time now as every one of our team are working from home,” the filmmaker wrote on Twitter.
“I request the fans and audience on behalf of my whole team to enjoy it from the comfort of their homes. The country is locked down for a reason. There should be no reason for a social gathering,” he added in another tweet.
Made on a colossal budget of approximately ₹ 400 crore, RRR is a fictional period drama slated to enter theatres on January 8, 2021.
A scene from The Thursday Murder Club, where four retirees turn amateur detectives in a quiet British village shaken by a real murderInstagram/NetflixUK
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.