From Saif Ali Khan's stabbing attack, Virat Kohli's like on Avneet Kaur's pic to Dhurandhar propaganda debate, top controversies of 2025

From Saif Ali Khan's stabbing attack, Virat Kohli's like on Avneet Kaur's pic to Dhurandhar propaganda debate, top controversies of 2025

• From Saif Ali Khan's stabbing attack, Virat Kohli's like on Avneet Kaur's pic to Dhurandhar propaganda debate, top controversies of 2025

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Deepika Padukone vs Spirit and Kalki 2898 AD team - Deepika Padukone’s demand for an 8-hour workday while shooting led to a clash with the makers of Spirit and the Kalki 2898 AD sequel. She exited both projects, then spoke about double standards for working mothers, turning a scheduling dispute into a big debate on gender equity in Bollywood.

Paresh Rawal quits Hera Pheri 3 (then returns)

Paresh Rawal’s exit from Hera Pheri 3 over contract terms and payment clauses triggered lawsuits, fan outrage and producer statements. After returning his signing amount with interest, he was reportedly sued for breach. Weeks of headlines later, negotiations brought him back, exposing creative chaos and internal tensions around the franchise.

Ranveer Singh’s Kantara mimicry and apology

Ranveer Singh recreated Kantara’s Daiva climax and jokingly referred to a goddess as a female ghost during IFFI 2025. Religious groups filed complaints, social media called it disrespectful, and Rishab Shetty said the mimicry made him uncomfortable. Ranveer issued a public apology, stressing admiration and denying any intent to offend.

Saif Ali Khan stabbing scare

Saif Ali Khan was stabbed during an attempted robbery at his Bandra home, sparking huge concern about celebrity security and residential safety. Details of the late-night attack, injuries and suspects dominated entertainment news. The incident pushed conversations around gated luxury, policing and how vulnerable even heavily guarded stars actually are.

Diljit Dosanjh, Hania Aamir and Sardaar Ji 3

Diljit Dosanjh faced backlash for casting Pakistani actor Hania Aamir in Sardaar Ji 3 amid tense India–Pakistan relations. Political groups demanded a ban, social media trended boycott calls, while others defended creative freedom. The row highlighted how cross-border collaborations keep becoming cultural flashpoints beyond box office considerations worldwide.

Virat Kohli’s like on Avneet Kaur’s post

Virat Kohli allegedly liking actor Avneet Kaur’s social media post ignited wild constant gossip about boundaries in celebrity marriages. Screenshots spread, fandoms clashed, and commentators debated parasocial policing of personal lives. An ordinary double tap turned into week-long online discourse on digital behaviour, privacy and expectations placed on public couples.

Karisma Kapoor vs Priya Sachdev over Sunjay Kapur estate

Karisma Kapoor and Priya Sachdev’s ongoing legal battle over late businessman Sunjay Kapur’s estate became high-profile tabloid drama. Court filings, children’s inheritance rights and conflicting claims over properties kept surfacing. The fight blurred lines between Page Three gossip and serious succession law, feeding India’s obsession with celebrity wealth and wills.

Dhurandhar propaganda debate

Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar, starring Ranveer Singh and Akshaye Khanna, was sharply accused of being propaganda cinema by critics and political commentators. Supporters argued it was patriotic storytelling. Anupam Kher posted a fiery video defending the film’s intent and praising Dhar’s courage, turning a box office juggernaut into an ideological battleground.

Bhool Chuk Maaf vs PVR Inox OTT clash

The Bhool Chuk Maaf team choosing a direct OTT release led exhibitor PVR Inox to move court, arguing breach of understanding on theatrical windows. The clash underlined growing friction between multiplex chains and producers, with lawyers, trade analysts and audiences now debating who really controls how new movies reach viewers.

Bollywood’s casting wars year

Bollywood casting wars intensified as Deepika Padukone, Akshaye Khanna and others walked in and out of big projects, sparking fan wars online. Sudden recasts, alleged creative differences and scheduling excuses invited speculation about hidden politics. A single casting announcement trended louder than trailers, revealing how fragile star–director equations actually are.

Disney’s Snow White – flop and culture war

Disney’s live-action Snow White became 2025’s most cursed movie. Rachel Zegler’s comments about modernising the fairy tale, dwarf representation debates, Gal Gadot-related boycotts in West Asia and accusations of forced wokeness collided with reshoots and a huge box office flop, turning one remake into a global culture-war lightning rod.

Katy Perry and the Blue Origin backlash

Blue Origin’s all-female suborbital flight featuring Katy Perry, Gayle King, Lauren Sánchez and others was pitched as a feminist milestone. Instead it drew intense backlash for billionaire tourism optics during economic hardship. Critics called it tone-deaf space cosplay, while Katy said she felt like a “human pinata” under online attacks.

Miss Universe 2025 chaos

The Miss Universe 2025 pageant descended into chaos with allegations of rigging, mismanagement and last-minute scoring confusion. Viral backstage clips, conflicting organiser statements and outraged national franchises fuelled conspiracy theories. Online, fans dissected slow-motion videos like crime evidence, proving beauty contests remain political despite years of glossy empowerment branding.

Tyler Perry sexual assault lawsuits

Tyler Perry was hit with multiple sexual assault lawsuits, including a high-stakes claim seeking tens of millions of dollars. Plaintiffs alleged coercive advances linked to casting opportunities and accused studios of ignoring complaints. Perry’s team called the cases meritless, but the filings reignited debate on power abuse and accountability in Hollywood.

Blake Lively vs Justin Baldoni legal feud

A legal showdown between Blake Lively and director Justin Baldoni over their project’s handling spilled into social media and fandom discourse. Reports described behind-the-scenes clashes, hurt reputations and divided stans. The case became shorthand for how swiftly collaborative creative relationships can flip into courtroom narratives in streaming-era Hollywood.

NewJeans, ADOR and HYBE melt-down

NewJeans’ war with label ADOR and parent company HYBE dominated global K-pop news. Contract termination attempts, a court ruling forcing members back, CEO Min Hee-jin’s exit, Danielle’s contract cancellation and a massive damages claim created nonstop chaos, raising questions about trainee control, idol mental health and corporate overreach.

Payal Gaming deepfake storm

Indian gaming creator Payal Dhare, known as Payal Gaming, was dragged into a storm when a 19-minute explicit clip went viral with people falsely linking it to her. Maharashtra Cyber Police later confirmed it was a deepfake, turning the case into a worrying example of AI-enabled sexual defamation against creators.