New Delhi:
The showbiz world is not just about lights, cameras and action. All that glitters is not gold. Fame comes at a price. Celebrities often bear the brunt of gossip and controversies. The year, 2024, too witnessed the not-so-side of the glitz world.
As we draw curtains on 2024, let’s look back at the 10 worst controversies
1) Rupali Ganguly vs Esha Verma: A defamation suit
In a dramatic turn of events, television actress Rupali Ganguly filed a defamation lawsuit against her stepdaughter, Esha Verma, seeking ₹50 crore in damages for allegedly tarnishing her reputation. Rupali claimed Esha accused her of abuse and of preventing her husband, Esha’s father Ashwin Verma, from reaching out to them.
Rupali’s lawyer stated that Esha removed all defamatory posts and deleted them from her X (Twitter) after the legal action. Esha responded through an Instagram post defending her actions and asserting her right to speak her truth as a family member, declaring it her “final statement on this matter.”
2) Nayanthara-Dhanush: Documentary footage controversy
South actor Dhanush sued actress Nayanthara and her husband, filmmaker Vignesh Shivan, over the unauthorised use of clips from the film Naanum Rowdy Dhaan in their Netflix documentary Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairytale.
Dhanush’s legal team argued that the footage violated his production company’s copyright. Nayanthara’s lawyer countered, stating the clips were from her personal library, not owned by Dhanush’s company, thus no copyright laws were broken.
In an open letter, Nayanthara said that despite two years of trying to secure Dhanush’s permission, they had to use behind-the-scenes footage recorded on personal devices when they couldn’t obtain an NOC. In a recent interview, Nayanthara said, “I’m not someone who would want to tarnish someone’s image just for the sake of publicity.”
3) AR Rahman Separation And Rumours
In November, AR Rahman and his wife Saira Banu announced their separation after 29 years of marriage. A day later, bassist Mohini Dey, who has toured with Rahman for years, announced separation from her musician husband, Mark Hartsuch.
The coincidence led to widespread speculation on social media, with many linking Rahman and Dey. Rahman’s legal team quickly denied any connection between the two announcements.
As rumours spread, Dey addressed the speculation in an Instagram post, strongly dismissing the link-up rumours. She expressed her admiration for Rahman as a “role model” and urged the media to respect their privacy, saying, “It is utterly unbelievable to see the amount of misinformation and baseless assumptions/claims against me & @arrahman.”
4) Stree 2 success: Publicity battle over credit
Stree 2 raked in massive box office earnings, propelling Shraddha Kapoor to the spotlight as one of the most sought-after actresses in Bollywood. But the film’s success reportedly sparked a behind-the-scenes credit war between its lead actors, Rajkummar Rao and Shraddha.
Reports indicated that Rajkummar Rao and Shraddha Kapoor’s publicists were locked in a social media battle, each trying to claim credit for the film’s triumph. Shraddha, however, downplayed the feud, acknowledging in an interview that Stree 2’s success was a collective achievement of the entire cast and crew.
Shraddha’s Stree 2 co-star Aparshakti Khurana weighed in, calling the “PR game” a “slightly unpleasant” aspect of the film’s success.
5) Poonam Pandey’s death hoax: A shocking marketing stunt
Model and reality TV star Poonam Pandey found herself at the centre of a death hoax. In February, news circulated that Poonam Pandey, aged 32, had died from cervical cancer. The announcement, made by her manager, applauded her brave fight against the disease.
But the following day, Poonam Pandey revealed that she was alive and that the death announcement was part of a campaign to raise awareness about cervical cancer.
The stunt sparked intense debate, with many criticising the approach as insensitive. The marketing agency behind the hoax issued an apology, acknowledging their mistake.
6) Arshad Warsi’s ‘joker’ jibe at Prabhas
Arshad Warsi landed in the hot water during an interview after describing Prabhas’ character in Kalki 2898 AD as a “joker.” Warsi said, “Prabhas, I am really sad, why was he…he was like a joker. Why?” This remark didn’t go well with Prabhas’ colleagues and fans.
And, then Arshad Warsi issued a clarification. Speaking to ANI, he said, “Everybody has their own point of view and people like to interpret noise. I spoke about the character, not the person. He (Prabhas) is a brilliant actor and he has proved himself again and again, and we know about it.”
7) Sharmin Segal in Heeramandi: The nepotism backlash
Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s debut OTT series, Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar, released on Netflix in May 2024, received acclaim, particularly for performances by Aditi Rao Hydari, Sonakshi Sinha, Manisha Koirala and Sanjeeda Sheikh.
However, Sharmin Segal, who played a major role in the series, found herself at the centre of a controversy. Many accused her of landing the part due to nepotism, as Sharmin is Bhansali’s niece. This led to trolling, with many questioning her acting credentials.
8) Siddharth’s Pushpa 2 fan frenzy comments: Online backlash erupts
Actor Siddharth stirred up a storm after mocking the massive fan gatherings at Allu Arjun’s Pushpa 2 promotional events. In a viral video, he dismissed the significance of large crowds, claiming they don’t ensure quality.
Comparing the fan frenzy in Patna to a crowd gathering around a JCB machine, Siddharth sarcastically said, “In India, even a JCB will attract a crowd. It’s not a big deal. Just block the ground and organise something, people will show up.” Siddharth’s comments didn’t sit well with Allu Arjun’s fans.
SHOCKING: Siddharth compares Pushpa 2 patna event with crowd which comes to watch JCB construction????????????️ pic.twitter.com/BMyVUo3sWa
— Manobala Vijayabalan (@ManobalaV) December 10, 2024
9) Vikrant Massey’s ‘retirement’ shock: Fans stunned, actor clarifies
Vikrant Massey made headlines with an Instagram post announcing his “retirement” from acting.
At just 37, the actor’s declaration sparked confusion, with many wondering if he was leaving the industry for good. While some expressed support, others criticised his decision, questioning the timing. But Vikrant cleared the air, revealing that he was not retiring permanently.
He explained that the decision was driven by “creative fatigue” and a desire to prioritise his health and family. After consulting with his wife, Sheetal Thakur, he assured fans that this was not a break from acting but a temporary step back to focus on personal well-being.
10) Jigra controversy: Divya Khossla Kumar vs. Karan Johar-Alia Bhatt
In one of the most dramatic showdowns of 2024, Divya Khossla Kumar accused Alia Bhatt of manipulating box office numbers for her film Jigra.
Divya’s explosive Instagram post featured an image of an empty cinema hall and claimed that Alia was buying the tickets to boost the film’s opening numbers. Karan Johar responded with a cryptic message on social media, stating, “Silence is the best speech you will ever give to fools.”
Not one to back down, Divya hit back, asserting, “Truth will always offend fools opposed to it.” But the drama didn’t stop there. Divya went on to criticise Karan for using “derogatory language” against her and accused him of “stealing” ideas.
She also drew parallels between Jigra and her own film Savi, claiming the two shared an almost identical storyline, with Savi being in production first.
