7 of the biggest Bollywood controversies of 2017

From Kangana branding Karan as a flagbearer of nepotism to Fatima trolled for wearing swinsuit, Bollywood hits new low

Whether it was the protest against film-maker Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Padmavati that resulted in the film's release date being pushed to uncertainty, actor Kangana Ranaut branding film-maker Karan Johar as a 'flagbearer of nepotism' or singer Sonu Nigam facing a backlash for calling Azaan"forced religiousness" - Bollywood had enough controversies grabbing headlines in 2017.

Here are seven biggest controversies that engulfed Bollywood in 2017:

1. Padmavati:

PHOTO: THE INDIAN EXPRESS

This Sanjay Leela Bhansali directorial raised controversy after the Karni Sena, an organisation of the Rajput community, urged a nationwide ban on the film claiming that it "distorts historical facts".

Bhansali also appeared before a Parliamentary committee and maintained that the row over the yet-to-be released movie was just based on rumours, strongly rejecting charges that he had distorted "historical" facts about the possibly mythological Rajput queen, played by Deepika Padukone in the film.

Bhansali's screening the film for a few mediapersons even before the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) had cleared it, added fuel to the entire controversy. The film, which was scheduled for release on December 1, was deferred.

The row took a turn for the worse when threats were issued against Bhansali and the film's lead actor Deepika Padukone.

2. Kangana Ranaut vs Karan Johar:

PHOTO: INDIA TODAY

One of the most fearless and outspoken divas in Bollywood, Kangana Ranaut called film-maker Karan Johar a 'flagbearer of nepotism' on his own chat show, Koffee With Karan.

It not just sparked a debate about the prevalence of nepotism, but snowballed into a bigger controversy when Karan and actors Saif Ali Khan and Varun Dhawan poked fun at Kangana and chanted "Nepotism rocks" at the IIFA Awards event this year in the US. They later apologised for their act once it attracted widespread criticism.

3. Sonu Nigam and the Azaan:

PHOTO: ANI

Renowned singer Sonu Nigam lashed out at "forced religiousness" in India after being woken up by the Azaan from a nearby mosque.

In a tweet, he said, "God bless everyone. I'm not a Muslim and I have to be woken up by the Azaan in the morning. When will this forced religiousness end in India?"

After the brouhaha that ensued, he even shaved off his hair in reaction to a maulvi's supposed call to have his head shaved for a INR1 million reward.

4. Nawazuddin Siddiqui's memoir:

PHOTO: INDIAN EXPRESS

Actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui had to apologise and withdraw his book An Ordinary Life after a complaint was reportedly filed against him for outraging the modesty of his Miss Lovely co-star Niharika Singh who slammed the actor for not taking her consent before sharing their personal equation with the world in his memoir.

5. Fatima Sana Sheikh trolled for wearing a swimsuit:

PHOTO: PINKVILLA

 

Some of the other controversies that made people think were when Fatima Sana Sheikh of Dangal fame was trolled for wearing a swimsuit at a beach and posting the photograph on her social media page during the month of Ramzan.

6. Mira Rajput on motherhood:

PHOTO:FILE

Even actor Shahid Kapoor's wife Mira landed in a soup when she said at an event, "I wouldn't want to spend one hour a day with my child and rush off to work. Why did I have her (Misha)? She is not a puppy, you know. I want to be there for her as a mother."

7. Rishi Kapoor on Indian Women Cricket Team:

PHOTO: KHALEEJ TIMES

Veteran actor Rishi Kapoor also made headlines when, in cheering up the Indian women's cricket team during the World Cup final, he tweeted, along with the famous shirtless picture of former captain Sourav Ganguly, "Waiting for a repeat of Sourav Ganguly's act on the balcony of The Lords Ground, London, when India beat England 2002 NatWest series final! YO."

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