Latest news with #ALTBalaji
News18
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Sonia Rathee Has This To Say About Her Co-Stars Shreyas Talpade, Tusshar Kapoor
Last Updated: Sonia Rathee recently opened up about her experiences while working with Shreyas Talpade and Tusshar Kapoor in Kapkapiii. Sonia Rathee, who made her acting debut in 2018 with the web series Broken But Beautiful, rose to immense stardom with her first movie, Tara vs Bilal, in 2022 as a lead actress opposite Harshvardhan Rane. The actress, who is gearing up for her next film titled Kapkapiii, alongside Shreyas Talpade and Tusshar Kapoor, opened up about her experiences of working with them during the shoot of the film. In a candid conversation with ETimes, Sonia Rathee reflected on how Shreyas Talpade and Tusshar Kapoor's presence on the sets of Kapkapiii turned out to be an unexpected masterclass of acting. Praising the Golmaal actor's discipline and iconic comedic timing in his previous films, the actress said, 'Tusshar surprised me the most, he was so quiet and in his zone on set. But the way he could switch in and out of character, especially when he had to be intense or scary, was honestly fascinating. There's a certain discipline and ease he brings to the craft that really stayed with me." She also talked about Talpade's knack for improvisation and how he always used to indulge in lovely conversations with the other cast and crew members. Revealing the Om Shanti Om star's understanding of the craft, Rathee stated, 'His improvisation skills are incredible. What I appreciated most was how collaborative he is. He would always encourage us to think deeply about the scenes, to ask questions, to engage in conversations." 'He spoke candidly about his journey, the highs and lows of his career. Those conversations gave me a lot of insight not just into acting, but into the resilience and thoughtfulness the industry demands," Rathee concluded while mentioning how Talpades' journey has kept her motivated throughout the time. Coming to her work front, Rathee played the role of Rumi Desai in her debut web series, Broken But Beautiful. Afterwards, she starred opposite late actor Sidharth Shukla in a show on ALTBalaji and MX Player. Following this, the diva appeared in the Netflix series Decoupled in the year 2021, in the role of Masha, co-starring Madhavan and Surveen Chawla. She then portrayed the lead character of Tara in the 2022 released movie, Tara vs Bilal, a romantic comedy produced by John Abraham. Beside acting, the actress showcased her dancing skills with her stint in Badshah's music video 'Chamkeela Chehra', which was released in July 2022. Currently, Sonia is all set to appear in the horror-comedy film, Kapkapiii, directed by Sangeeth Sivan and produced by Jayesh Patel and Vipin Agnihotri. The remake of the 2023 Malayalam film Romancham also stars Siddhi Idnani in a key role. It will hit the theatres on May 23. First Published:
NDTV
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
What Is The ' House Arrest ' Controversy And Why Ajaz Khan Is In The Dock
New Delhi: Former Bigg Boss contestant Ajaz Khan has found himself at the centre of yet another storm - this time as the host of a reality show that many are calling one of the "most disturbing ever" streamed in India. The show in question, House Arrest, airs on the Ullu app, an OTT platform frequently criticised for pushing the boundaries of adult content. What began as a typical "lock-in drama" turned controversial when a viral clip from the show showed contestants engaging in acts that many online have described as "degrading, inappropriate, and even exploitative". Khan, who has previously courted controversy over issues ranging from communal comments to alleged drug possession, is now being slammed for allegedly encouraging vulgar behaviour on screen. Here's a breakdown of what exactly happened and why it matters. What Is ' House Arrest ' - The Show? House Arrest is a reality show streaming on the Ullu app, known for its bold and provocative content. In a format reminiscent of Bigg Boss, contestants are locked inside a luxurious villa and subjected to various emotionally and physically demanding tasks. The show promises intense drama, unexpected romances and explosive confrontations. Some of the participants include Aabha Paul, Humera Shaikh, Sarika Salunkhe, Muskaan Agarwal and Rahul Bhoj. What Is The Recent ' House Arrest ' Controversy? The controversy began when a viral clip from House Arrest surfaced online, triggering massive public outrage. In the video, a female contestant expressed that she lacked knowledge about sexual matters. Instead of handling the moment with sensitivity, host Ajaz Khan allegedly encouraged other participants to demonstrate sexual positions on camera. The contestant appeared visibly uncomfortable, while other cast members reportedly clapped and booed as some of the women removed their undergarments. The episode has since been widely condemned for its exploitative and degrading tone. How Is Ajaz Khan Part Of The Controversy? Ajaz Khan, a former Bigg Boss contestant, hosts House Arrest and has called himself the "daddy of the house." Many argue that instead of maintaining boundaries and respecting participant consent, Khan turned the show into a space of spectacle and humiliation. His role in directing the questionable scene and encouraging others to act it out has brought him under intense scrutiny, with many accusing him of legitimising vulgarity under the guise of entertainment. This incident has only added to the long list of controversies surrounding him. Ullu App, Alt Balaji And The Numerous Complaints Streaming platforms like Ullu and ALTBalaji have repeatedly been flagged for pushing the boundaries of acceptable content. While 18 other OTT platforms were banned by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in 2023 for explicit and pornographic content, Ullu and ALTBalaji were notably excluded. ALT Balaji - founded by television producer Ekta Kapoor - has repeatedly faced backlash over its shows. From the erotic drama XXX to controversial series like Gandii Baat, the platform has been accused of misrepresenting minors, glorifying incest and pushing soft porn under the guise of bold storytelling. Legal complaints, especially involving season 6 of Gandii Baat, have led to serious charges under the IPC, IT Act and POCSO Act. Internet users have long pointed out that ALT Balaji's attempts to defend such content as 'women-centric' or 'progressive' often fall flat in the face of recurring themes that many deem exploitative and culturally insensitive. Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi has questioned this selective censorship, stating that she has raised concerns in parliamentary committees with no clear response from authorities. BJP MP Nishikant Dubey has also assured that action will be taken. Social Media Backlash The public response to the House Arrest clip was swift and fierce. Viewers labelled the episode as "disturbing," "degrading," and "unwatchable." Many questioned how such shows get approved and are allowed to stream unchecked. One user on X (formerly Twitter) asked, "How do they approve such TV Shows?" while another pointed out the blurring line between entertainment and exploitation. The outrage has amplified calls for stricter pre-release regulation of OTT content and increased accountability for streaming platforms. Rules Around OTT Content In India India currently regulates OTT content through the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. The framework includes a three-tier grievance redressal system and expects platforms to self-regulate. However, the government is now working on new rules that will allow for content regulation before release. Under existing laws, platforms must categorise content by age suitability, ensure age-gating for mature material and comply with laws on obscenity and child protection, including the POCSO Act, the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. Other OTT Series In The Dock Several other OTT series have also faced backlash for similar reasons. ALTBalaji's Gandii Baat landed in legal trouble when it was accused of featuring obscene scenes involving minors. A case was filed under the POCSO Act and the IT Act. Another ALTBalaji series, XXX Season 2, faced criticism for a storyline involving a woman's affair while her army husband was on duty, prompting outrage from military families. Similarly, Netflix's Rana Naidu shocked fans of actor Venkatesh with its explicit dialogues and was compared unfavourably to Sacred Games and Mirzapur. Ajaz Khan And His Controversies Ajaz Khan has been embroiled in multiple controversies over the years: Rape Case (2025): A 30-year-old woman filed a complaint accusing Ayaz Khan of raping her under the pretext of marriage and offering her a role in his web show House Arrest. The case has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and an investigation is ongoing. Objectionable Messages Case (2016): Model Aishwarya Choubey filed a complaint accusing Ajaz of sending her lewd messages and an objectionable photo. While an FIR was registered, Ajaz denied the claims and said he was being targeted. Drug Possession Arrest (2018): He was arrested in Navi Mumbai for alleged possession of ecstasy pills. The police found 8 tablets during a raid. Khan claimed he was framed and that the packet was given to him by people at a party. TikTok Controversy (2019): Ajaz Khan was arrested after he uploaded TikTok videos allegedly promoting communal enmity and mocking FIRs filed against other users. He was booked under the IT Act and IPC sections related to promoting enmity and obscene content. Communal Remarks Case (2020): During the COVID-19 lockdown, Ajaz was arrested again for allegedly making communal remarks on Facebook about Muslims being blamed for various incidents. He was booked under IPC Sections including 153A and 505(2), and taken into custody. Drug Syndicate Connection (2021): The Narcotics Control Bureau arrested him for alleged links to the infamous Batata Gang. Though only a small amount of Alprozol was found at his home, officials said his arrest was based on larger connections to the drug network.
The Print
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Print
Ajaz Khan House Arrest show is why OTT faces flak. It's soft porn in disguise
The 1:56-second clip from the show is symptomatic of a worrying trend on OTT that threatens to bring back 'creative freedom' in India. This is not your typical reality show like Roadies or Splitsvilla —it takes things a step further. House Arrest is a cocktail of abuse, soft porn, and sexism. And even if someone doesn't have access to the OTT platform itself, they can easily watch its most vulgar clips on social media, where they're freely circulating. In the same show, some women were made to remove their clothing. The video is now viral on social media and has yet again given the window to voices that often push for scrutinising creative freedom on OTT and demand a blanket ban. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi posted the clip on X and demanded the government look into the kind of content being pushed in the name of creativity. A woman contestant on a show called House Arrest , a reality show telecast on the Ullu app, said that she doesn't know much about sex. Suddenly, the host of the show, Ajaz Khan, asked other contestants to teach her sex positions. They don't undress, but they move their bodies to make it look real. Khan pressured a female contestant to act out positions with male contestants. When she hesitated and admitted she is inexperienced, Khan asked, ' Tumne experiment nahi kiya kabhi? ' (You have never experimented?). Downfall of digital kranti Ullu, ALTBalaji, Kooku, PrimePlay and NueFlix etc have built their entire existence around soft porn conten, thriving on shows such as Charamsukh, Gandii Baat, Panchali, and Riti Riwaj. When OTT platforms first came, they disrupted the formula-based showbiz. It was sort of a digital kranti. There was freedom from censorship, there were meaningful stories, bold themes that redefined what Indian content could look like, with shows such as Delhi Crime, Paatal Lok, and Scam 1992. But with time, just like Bollywood and cable TV with its late-night B-grade movie slots, some parts of OTT platforms became a dumping ground for hyper-sexualised content. What was supposed to uplift the standard of cinema and create space for new talent has become a space for tasteless adult content. Such platforms threaten collateral damage to the entire OTTverse. Because most crackdowns aren't nuanced. The controversy around House Arrest is not surprising, but it is disturbing for sure. The Supreme Court had also issued notices to the Centre and OTT platforms over the rise in such content, noting that freedom of expression is important, but it cannot come without limits. The Court said that platforms have a 'social responsibility.' This same thought was shared by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, who criticised the 'disgusting content' being served to India's youth. The creative freedom debate and the social responsibility debate aren't about moral policing, but a call for accountability. Creative freedom is important, but so is a sense of proportion. B-grade movies aren't art—they are just serving sexual content. This is not happening for the first time. Cable TV has done it in the past when it used to provide soft porn content at specific hours—late nights. But it wasn't very accessible and TV was often under parental control. With the internet and mobile, these platforms have provided content that can be watched in personal space, and that is why their reach is deeper, exposing even the underage. When Randeep Allahbadia made an adult joke on a reality show, it became a national issue, hit people's psyche, and FIRs rained. It was disturbing for a lot of people. What was shown in the House Arrest episode is now a daily reality of Indian OTT, a culture that will only take it back in time, close to TV and cable. Creativity's newest platform is also becoming its deathbed. Views are personal.
