By: Mohnish Singh
Things do not seem to be going well for the makers of the upcoming Hindi film Jersey. In January earlier this year, the shoot of the sports drama came to a screeching halt when its leading man Shahid Kapoor suffered a head injury and underwent 13 stitches to recover. In March, the team had to stop the shoot again due to the Coronavirus-induced lockdown. The shoot of the film has been postponed again, now due to the ongoing farmers’ protest in India.
According to reports, the team halted the shoot in Chandigarh and moved to Dehradun last week. They are now planning to return to Chandigarh at a later date where they still have a few important portions left to be shot.
Explaining the same, a source in the know tells a publication, “Days into the shoot in Chandigarh, the makers felt it would be difficult to pull off the remaining shoot amid the current scenario. So, the team quickly changed their plan and headed to Dehradun last week. Shahid, Mrunal Thakur, and the cast will film certain portions in the Uttarakhand capital over the next few days and will return to Chandigarh in the last leg of the schedule. They have about three days’ work left in the city.”
For the unversed, Jersey is an official remake of the superhit Telugu film of the same name, which featured Nani in the lead role. Director Gowtham Tinnanuri, who directed the original, is calling shots for the remake as well. Pankaj Tripathi, Jackie Shroff, and Shahid Kapoor’s father Pankaj Kapur also play important characters in the movie.
Earlier scheduled to release on August 28, 2020, Jersey is now expected to enter theatres in the first half of 2021. An official announcement is awaited though.
Keep visiting this space for more updates from the world of entertainment.
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.