From film sets to social media: 8 biggest Bollywood controversies of 2025

Bollywood in 2025 was, as ever, very much in the news, not just for its movies, but for a string of scandals which made the front pages and headlines on social media and news websites, involving some huge stars of the industry.

Deepika Padukone’s high-profile exits bring work culture into focus

Deepika reportedly stepped down from the ‘Spirit’ by Sandeep Reddy Vanga, citing some creative and work-related issues, such as work timings and profit-sharing, among others. The move coincided with Deepika concentrating on taking care of her child, who was born in 2024. Later, she also walked out of the sequel project Kalki 2898 AD. There were no updates released, yet this news once again raised the point of work-life balance, especially among mothers returning to work.

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Aryan Khan's debut series faces controversy with lawsuit

Aryan Khan was in the news when ex-NCB official Sameer Wankhede moved a case of defamation against the producers of his Netflix web series Ba**ds of Bollywood. In the case, Wankhede had claimed that a character similar to him was depicted in a derogatory manner in his web series.

Saif Ali Khan stabbing case: Serious security concerns arise

Perhaps one of the most disturbing incidents of this year, Saif Ali Khan was stabbed by a burglar at his Mumbai home in the early hours of January 16. The culprit, whose real name is Mohammad Shariful Islam Shehzad, was later arrested for attempted robbery and assault, sparking concerns for their safety among stars of their calibre.

Diljit Dosanjh’s Sardaar Ji 3 at center of political fire

Diljit Dosanjh came under criticism for his role alongside Pakistani actress Hania Aamir in the movie Sardaar Ji3. This escalated as a result of the terror attack on April 22nd in Pahalgam, resulting once again in the demand for a ban on all Pakistani artists. The decision has been made not to have the release happen in the country, as per a previous decree by FWICE back in 2019.

Hera Pheri 3 uncertainty after Paresh-Akshay rift reports

Speculations also arose in Hera Pheri 3, which came after reports that Paresh Rawal had left the film after a spat with Akshay Kumar. It took Akshay several months to clarify that everything is fine between them and that it was not a publicity stunt.

Karisma Kapoor's children caught in an inheritance dispute

A legal battle involving Karisma Kapoor’s children, Samaira and Kiaan, has been making headlines. The two are reportedly contesting their father Sunjay Kapur’s will and claiming that it is a forgery, and are already engaged in a court battle with stepmother Priya Kapur over matters relating to inheritance and fulfilment of education expenditures.

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Virat Kohli's Instagram 'like' triggers social media frenzy

A seemingly innocuous incident on social media went viral after Virat Kohli’s official Instagram handle liked a picture of actress Avneet Kaur. The incident led to various memes and rumours online, forcing Kohli to come up with a statement. Virat Kohli said, “I'd like to clarify that while clearing my feed, it appears the algorithm may have mistakenly registered an interaction”.

Jaya Bachchan’s paparazzi remarks ignite fresh debate

Veteran actor and MP, Jaya Bachchan, made headlines when she criticised the culture of paparazzi at the We The Women event with Barkha Dutt. Although she said that she has cordial relationships with members of the press, there was a mixture of reactions to her comments about professionalism. Director Ashok Pandit reacted to the remarks, calling her of ‘snobbish elitism’.