This year some of our Bollywood actors were caught in the most disputable, debatable and politically sensitive controversies ever. Here's a quick recap at the strife and scuffles that stormed the film industry
Hiren Kotwani & Sonil Dedhia (BOMBAY TIMES; December 22, 2015)
AAMIR KHAN SPARKS NATIONWIDE DEBATE
Aamir Khan added fuel to the 'intolerance' debate. The actor said at an event that his wife Kiran Rao asked him if they should leave the country as she feared the safety of their children in the climate of insecurity. This led to an uproar on social media (with divided opinions), the debate intensified and Aamir faced backlash from certain political parties. The following day, the ac tor issued a statement saying that neither he nor Kiran had any intention of leaving the country. “I feel fortunate being born here and this is where I am staying,“ he said in the statement and ended it with Rabindranath Tagore's poem, Where the mind is without fear.
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SALMAN KHAN'S HIT-AND-RUN CASE
After 13 years since Salman Khan's alleged drunken driving accident made headlines, the actor was acquitted of all charges in the hit-and-run case this month. The Bombay High Court blamed the police for shoddy investigation and a weak charge sheet. The prosecution was held responsible for anomalies in the evidence, not calling all the witnesses named and not putting up a strong case. Salman walked out a free man.
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PAHLAJ NIHALANI'S 'SANSKARI' CENSORSHIP
Pahlaj Nihalani, who is the chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification, faced a lot of heat when he reportedly issued diktats for a list of words and kind of scenes to be 'censored' before clearing the films. There were also reports that he would be ousted. Nihalani faced a lot of flak from the film industry and movie-goers for censoring the kisses in the latest Bond film by 50 per cent. He was the butt of jokes on social media for his sanskari views on cinema, but unfazed by it he has registered Sanskari as the title of his next film.
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AMEESHA PATEL TROLLED FOR DISRESPECTING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM
In October, Kushal Tandon accused Ameesha Patel for not standing up as a mark of respect to the National Anthem while it was being played before a movie screening. The actress tried to defend herself by saying that she was menstruating and had to make a hasty escape to the bathroom once the movie started. Ameesha was trolled on social networking sites for her excuse.
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ANUSHKA SHARMA BLAMED FOR INDIAN CRICKET TEAM'S POOR PERFORMANCE
Anushka Sharma, who is in a relationship with cricketer Virat Kohli, faced backlash on social me dia when India lost the Cricket World Cup semi-finals earlier this year. Every time, the Indian team doesn't perform well, or Virat loses runs on the field, sadly, Anushka becomes the butt of jokes.
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SANJAY DUTT'S PAROLE TROUBLE
When Sanjay Dutt was granted parole in August to attend to daughter Iqra, who was undergoing a nose surgery, the news met with a lot of criticism. There were allegations that the actor was getting special treatment as he would often be on fur lough. Sanju, who is serving his sentence since May 2013, has reportedly been out of the Yerwada Jail for about five months in over two years. He's likely to be free early next year when his sentence ends.
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AISHWARYA RAI BACHCHAN'S 'RACIAL' JEWELLERY CAMPAIGN
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's jewellery print advertising campaign, which reportedly showed an underage slave child holding an umbrella for her, was mired in controversy in April. Activists reacted strongly and called it 'offensive and racist'. It later turned out that the actress had shot solo pictures and the campaign was changed by the creative team without her knowledge.
![]( "Click To Enlarge")
SHAH RUKH KHAN'S REMARKS ABOUT 'INTOLERANCE'
While giving interviews to news channels on his 50th birthday, Shah Rukh Khan spoke about `intolerance' in India. Incidentally, it was linked to Enforcement Directorate (ED) notices that were sent to him a couple of days prior to this. While the ED recorded his statement in connection with irregularities in a cricket league, a month later the ac tor clarified that there was no in tolerance in the country.
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AMITABH BACHCHAN, MADHURI DIXIT-NENE, PREITY ZINTA'S NOODLE BRAND CONTROVERSY
When the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) banned a noodle brand for high lead content in August, its brand ambassadors Amitabh Bachchan, Madhuri Dixit Nene and Preity Zinta faced the ire. While a lawyer in Uttar Pradesh lodged a case against the three actors for endorsing the brand, a Bihar court ordered an FIR against them. Last month, the noodle brand was back on the shelves and the actors got a clean chit.
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RADHIKA APTE'S MMS GOES VIRAL
Actress Radhika Apte found herself in the midst of an MMS scandal not once, but twice. First, nude photo graphs were circulated online in February. The actress denied being in those pictures. Adding to her woes, a clip of the actress (in a bold scene) from Anurag Kashyap's short film, which was made only for the international market, got leaked and went viral in April this year. The enraged director said, “She feels victimised and I feel responsible.“ He spoke to Mumbai Police's cyber crime cell and asked them to trace the man who did this.
![]( "Click To Enlarge")
RANVEER SINGH, ARJUN KAPOOR AND KARAN JOHAR'S AIB ROAST KNOCKOUT
Even though the All India Bakchod (AIB) Roast featuring actors Ranveer Singh and Arjun Kapoor took place last December, the actors faced flak again after the video was uploaded online in January. Police complaints were filed against the two actors, the 'Roasters' (AIB's members) and film maker Karan Johar. While some, like Aamir Khan and Salman Khan found it too vulgar, others like Anurag Kashyap supported it in the name of freedom of speech and expression. Eventually, the video was withdrawn and the four members of AIB issued an unconditional apology to the Christian clergy.
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THE AWARD WAPSI MOVEMENT AND FTII CONTROVERSY
When Gajendra Chauhan, best known as Yudhisthir of BR Chopra's TV serial Mahabharat, was appointed Chairman of Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), students went on strike as they felt he wasn't the right candidate for the post. As a mark of protest, many prominent film makers including Dibakar Banerjee and Anand Patwardhan returned their National Awards. The strike was finally called off after 139 days and the actor took charge on December 18.
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CBI FILES CHARGESHEET AGAINST SOORAJ PANCHOLI
Two-and-a-half years after Jiah Khan reported ly committed suicide, the CBI, which is investigating the case now, filed a charge sheet describing Sooraj Pancholi's role in graphic detail, besides charging him with abetment of suicide earlier this month. The actor, who was reportedly dating Jiah then, had been arrested in June 2013 on suspicion and spent 23 days in prison before released on bail.
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ADITYA PANCHOLI'S PUB BRAWL
Aditya Pancholi, who has made news for getting into a fist fight before, was arrested in May after hitting a bouncer in a Juhu hotel's nightclub. He reportedly requested the DJ to play Hindi songs. When he threw a fit, the bouncers intervened, ask ing him to leave. Furious, the actor banged his mo bile handset on one of them, causing him injury. He was produced in court the following day and was granted bail for Rs 50,000.
Aamir Khan added fuel to the 'intolerance' debate. The actor said at an event that his wife Kiran Rao asked him if they should leave the country as she feared the safety of their children in the climate of insecurity. This led to an uproar on social media (with divided opinions), the debate intensified and Aamir faced backlash from certain political parties. The following day, the ac tor issued a statement saying that neither he nor Kiran had any intention of leaving the country. “I feel fortunate being born here and this is where I am staying,“ he said in the statement and ended it with Rabindranath Tagore's poem, Where the mind is without fear.
SALMAN KHAN'S HIT-AND-RUN CASE
After 13 years since Salman Khan's alleged drunken driving accident made headlines, the actor was acquitted of all charges in the hit-and-run case this month. The Bombay High Court blamed the police for shoddy investigation and a weak charge sheet. The prosecution was held responsible for anomalies in the evidence, not calling all the witnesses named and not putting up a strong case. Salman walked out a free man.
PAHLAJ NIHALANI'S 'SANSKARI' CENSORSHIP
Pahlaj Nihalani, who is the chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification, faced a lot of heat when he reportedly issued diktats for a list of words and kind of scenes to be 'censored' before clearing the films. There were also reports that he would be ousted. Nihalani faced a lot of flak from the film industry and movie-goers for censoring the kisses in the latest Bond film by 50 per cent. He was the butt of jokes on social media for his sanskari views on cinema, but unfazed by it he has registered Sanskari as the title of his next film.
AMEESHA PATEL TROLLED FOR DISRESPECTING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM
In October, Kushal Tandon accused Ameesha Patel for not standing up as a mark of respect to the National Anthem while it was being played before a movie screening. The actress tried to defend herself by saying that she was menstruating and had to make a hasty escape to the bathroom once the movie started. Ameesha was trolled on social networking sites for her excuse.
ANUSHKA SHARMA BLAMED FOR INDIAN CRICKET TEAM'S POOR PERFORMANCE
Anushka Sharma, who is in a relationship with cricketer Virat Kohli, faced backlash on social me dia when India lost the Cricket World Cup semi-finals earlier this year. Every time, the Indian team doesn't perform well, or Virat loses runs on the field, sadly, Anushka becomes the butt of jokes.
SANJAY DUTT'S PAROLE TROUBLE
When Sanjay Dutt was granted parole in August to attend to daughter Iqra, who was undergoing a nose surgery, the news met with a lot of criticism. There were allegations that the actor was getting special treatment as he would often be on fur lough. Sanju, who is serving his sentence since May 2013, has reportedly been out of the Yerwada Jail for about five months in over two years. He's likely to be free early next year when his sentence ends.
AISHWARYA RAI BACHCHAN'S 'RACIAL' JEWELLERY CAMPAIGN
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's jewellery print advertising campaign, which reportedly showed an underage slave child holding an umbrella for her, was mired in controversy in April. Activists reacted strongly and called it 'offensive and racist'. It later turned out that the actress had shot solo pictures and the campaign was changed by the creative team without her knowledge.
SHAH RUKH KHAN'S REMARKS ABOUT 'INTOLERANCE'
While giving interviews to news channels on his 50th birthday, Shah Rukh Khan spoke about `intolerance' in India. Incidentally, it was linked to Enforcement Directorate (ED) notices that were sent to him a couple of days prior to this. While the ED recorded his statement in connection with irregularities in a cricket league, a month later the ac tor clarified that there was no in tolerance in the country.
AMITABH BACHCHAN, MADHURI DIXIT-NENE, PREITY ZINTA'S NOODLE BRAND CONTROVERSY
When the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) banned a noodle brand for high lead content in August, its brand ambassadors Amitabh Bachchan, Madhuri Dixit Nene and Preity Zinta faced the ire. While a lawyer in Uttar Pradesh lodged a case against the three actors for endorsing the brand, a Bihar court ordered an FIR against them. Last month, the noodle brand was back on the shelves and the actors got a clean chit.
RADHIKA APTE'S MMS GOES VIRAL
Actress Radhika Apte found herself in the midst of an MMS scandal not once, but twice. First, nude photo graphs were circulated online in February. The actress denied being in those pictures. Adding to her woes, a clip of the actress (in a bold scene) from Anurag Kashyap's short film, which was made only for the international market, got leaked and went viral in April this year. The enraged director said, “She feels victimised and I feel responsible.“ He spoke to Mumbai Police's cyber crime cell and asked them to trace the man who did this.
RANVEER SINGH, ARJUN KAPOOR AND KARAN JOHAR'S AIB ROAST KNOCKOUT
Even though the All India Bakchod (AIB) Roast featuring actors Ranveer Singh and Arjun Kapoor took place last December, the actors faced flak again after the video was uploaded online in January. Police complaints were filed against the two actors, the 'Roasters' (AIB's members) and film maker Karan Johar. While some, like Aamir Khan and Salman Khan found it too vulgar, others like Anurag Kashyap supported it in the name of freedom of speech and expression. Eventually, the video was withdrawn and the four members of AIB issued an unconditional apology to the Christian clergy.
THE AWARD WAPSI MOVEMENT AND FTII CONTROVERSY
When Gajendra Chauhan, best known as Yudhisthir of BR Chopra's TV serial Mahabharat, was appointed Chairman of Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), students went on strike as they felt he wasn't the right candidate for the post. As a mark of protest, many prominent film makers including Dibakar Banerjee and Anand Patwardhan returned their National Awards. The strike was finally called off after 139 days and the actor took charge on December 18.
CBI FILES CHARGESHEET AGAINST SOORAJ PANCHOLI
Two-and-a-half years after Jiah Khan reported ly committed suicide, the CBI, which is investigating the case now, filed a charge sheet describing Sooraj Pancholi's role in graphic detail, besides charging him with abetment of suicide earlier this month. The actor, who was reportedly dating Jiah then, had been arrested in June 2013 on suspicion and spent 23 days in prison before released on bail.
ADITYA PANCHOLI'S PUB BRAWL
Aditya Pancholi, who has made news for getting into a fist fight before, was arrested in May after hitting a bouncer in a Juhu hotel's nightclub. He reportedly requested the DJ to play Hindi songs. When he threw a fit, the bouncers intervened, ask ing him to leave. Furious, the actor banged his mo bile handset on one of them, causing him injury. He was produced in court the following day and was granted bail for Rs 50,000.