Mumbai: The year 2025 once again proved that celebrity culture in India is no longer limited to the cinema screen or the cricket field, but has flourished in front of the public and has taken a new shape. From workplace ethics to personal safety and even paparazzi accountability, controversies involving popular public figures have made headlines time and again. Have a look here Such incidents which created a lot of discussion this year.
Debate on Deepika Padukone and 8 hours of work
Deepika Padukone finds herself in the middle of a heated debate after Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s shock exit from Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s ‘Spirit’ over specific working conditions, including the request for eight-hour workdays. After the ‘Chennai Express’ actress reportedly demanded fixed working hours in the film industry, many celebrities came forward to directly and indirectly emphasize the need for a structured change in the industry. In another development, Deepika was also dropped from Prabhas starrer ‘Kalki 2898 AD’, with the makers mentioning that they decided to part ways with Deepika after “careful consideration”, adding that a film like Kalki deserves a higher level of “commitment”.
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India’s Got Latent Controversy
Samay Raina’s show India’s Got Latent came under intense scrutiny after Ranveer Allahbadia’s controversial remarks during an episode went viral, drawing widespread criticism on social media. The podcaster later issued a public apology, admitting that his comments were not only inappropriate but lacked humor. Earlier this year, the Supreme Court had also rapped Raina for insensitive comments about disabled persons, and directed him and four other comedians – Vipul Goyal, Balraj Paramjit Singh Ghai, Nishant Jagdish Tanwar and Sonali Thakkar (aka Sonali Aditya Desai) to tender an unconditional apology. Raina apologized through his social media handle on 26 October.
Ranveer Singh and Kantara Backlash
In one of the most recent incidents, a viral video of an event faced intense criticism when Ranveer Singh was seen mimicking ‘Kantara: Chapter 1’ actor Rishabh Shetty at IFFI 2025. A complaint was filed against actor Ranveer Singh. Advocate Prashant Bethal filed a complaint against the actor at the High Grounds police station under sections 302, 299 and 354 of the Indian Justice Code (BNS) for allegedly hurting “religious sentiments” of the people of Karnataka. Later, Ranveer issued an apology saying that he “hugely admires” Rishabh Shetty.
Release of ‘The Taj Story’ halted
The Taj Story became one of the most talked about releases of the year, receiving a lot of criticism. A PIL was also filed in the Delhi High Court, seeking judicial intervention to stop or regulate the release and screening of the film, alleging that the film distorts historical facts and endangers communal harmony and the dignity of national heritage. Later, the Delhi HC refused to stop the release saying that it is not the role of the judiciary to act as a “super censor board”.
Paresh Rawal’s Hera Pheri departure
Veteran actor Paresh Rawal’s sudden departure from the third installment of the ‘Hera Pheri’ franchise came as a shock to the film industry and fans. There were also reports of Akshay Kumar suing Paresh Rawal for unfair departure. Following the news, a shocked Suniel Shetty shared, “I mean, this is a complete shock to me, and I’m here because I heard it yesterday, and then today, some more news came. So, I need to call and find out, and I’m completely heartbroken because if there was one movie I was waiting for, it was Hera Pheri, you know.” Despite a brief interruption, Rawal is reportedly back on the project, ending the rift.
Jaya Bachchan vs Paparazzi
Jaya Bachchan is known for her heated exchanges with the paparazzi, which have repeatedly sparked debates on privacy, consent and media ethics. In a recent example, Jaya Bachchan described today’s paparazzi scene as “strange” and questioned its ethics and professionalism. He criticized the role and credibility of the paparazzi, describing them as people who believe that merely having a phone gives them authority. Adding how “strange” she finds his behaviour, Jaya shared, “…but this guy out there wearing drain-pipe tight dirty dirty pants with a mobile in his hand…he thinks he can take your picture if he has a mobile in his hand?” While some dismissed her responses as insulting, others had mixed reactions.
Karisma Kapoor-Priya Sachdev’s legal battle
After the demise of Karisma Kapoor’s ex-husband Sanjay Kapoor in June this year, several concerns were raised over important documents related to his estate and even his post-mortem report. Karisma Kapoor’s children sought an interim injunction to prevent Priya Kapoor from dealing with or alienating Sanjay Kapoor’s property. Karisma Kapoor and Sanjay Kapoor were married from 2003 to 2016 and have two children. Later Sanjay married Priya Sachdev Kapoor. On the other hand, Sanjay Kapoor’s mother Rani Kapoor also challenged the will, arguing that it was inconsistent with her son’s conduct.
Rani also alleged that, after her son’s death, Priya moved quickly to consolidate control over businesses and properties and that the estate details filed before the court were incomplete, missing valuable artworks, watches, bank accounts, insurance policies, rental income and other investments. After weeks of legal battle, Delhi HC ended the hearing by reserving orders on the interim injunction petition filed by his children.
Saif Ali Khan stabbing incident
In January this year, actor Saif Ali Khan was attacked with a knife during an alleged robbery attempt when accused Shariful Islam, also known as Shehzad, broke into the actor’s Bandra residence. During the incident, Khan was seriously injured, suffering damage to his thoracic spine and other body parts. The actor was taken to Lilavati Hospital, where he was treated for five days before being discharged on January 21. Regarding the case, Mumbai’s Bandra Police said that they have filed a 1000-page charge sheet, which includes several pieces of evidence.
Palash Muchhal and Smriti Mandhana’s wedding
Speculations regarding musician Palash Muchhal and cricketer Smriti Mandhana gained momentum in late November this year. Palash and Mandhana, whose wedding was originally scheduled to take place on November 23, 2025, postponed the ceremony after Mandhana’s father Srinivas Mandhana fell ill on the day of the ceremony in Sangli. He reportedly felt “symptoms of a heart attack” and was taken to Sarvhit Hospital. While the sudden cancellation sparked many rumors about their personal life, Palash and Mandhana finally reacted and announced that their wedding has been cancelled.
Diljit Dosanjh faced criticism for working with Pakistani actor in ‘Sardaar Ji 3’
Diljit Dosanjh had to face criticism for working with Pakistani actor Hania Aamir in ‘Sardar Ji 3’. The film, which released in theaters abroad on June 27, has sparked controversy amid India-Pakistan tensions following the Pahalgam terror attack, following which India launched Operation Sindoor. Diljit has faced criticism from social media users, film industry members and the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE).
‘Bollywood scoundrels’ in legal trouble
Aryan Khan’s directorial debut series, ‘The Ba**ads of Bollywood’ faces legal trouble as Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer and former NCB Mumbai zonal director Sameer Gyandev Wankhede has filed a counter before the Delhi High Court, alleging that Shah Rukh Khan-owned Red Chillies Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. produced and disseminated “false, malicious and defamatory” content through its Netflix web series. Wankhede argued that the web series is not a work of fiction but a “personal vendetta disguised as satire”, allegedly aimed at tarnishing Shah Rukh Khan’s reputation following the 2021 Cordelia Cruise drug case involving his son Aryan Khan.
That said, although the list of controversies remains endless, they reflect how celebrities are approaching fame in an era of constant scrutiny.