New Delhi:
The world of showbiz is not just about lights, cameras and action. All that glitters is not gold. Fame comes at a price. Celebrities often have to bear the brunt of gossip and controversies. The year 2024 also witnessed a different aspect of the dazzling world.
As we raise the curtain on 2024, let’s take a look at the 10 worst controversies
1) Rupali Ganguly vs Esha Verma: Defamation case
In a dramatic turn of events, television actress Rupali Ganguly has filed a defamation suit against her stepdaughter Esha Verma, demanding compensation of ₹50 crore for allegedly tarnishing her reputation. Rupali claimed that Isha accused her of misbehaving and preventing her husband, Isha’s father Ashwin Verma, from reaching her.
Rupali’s lawyer said that after legal action, Isha removed all the defamatory posts from her ex (Twitter). Isha defended her actions through an Instagram post and declared it “her final statement on this matter”, asserting her right to speak her truth as a family member.
2) Nayanthara-Dhanush: Documentary footage controversy
South actor Dhanush sued actress Nayanthara and her husband, filmmaker Vignesh Shivan, over unauthorized use of clips from the film. Nanum Rowdy Paddy In his Netflix documentary Nayanthara: Beyond the Fairytale,
Dhanush’s legal team argued that the footage infringed the copyright of his production company. Nayanthara’s lawyer countered, saying that the clips were from her personal library, not owned by Dhanush’s company, so 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 could not get the NOC. In a recent interview, Nayanthara said, “I am not one of those people who would want to tarnish someone’s image just for the sake of publicity.”
3) AR Rahman separation and rumors
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 her separation from her musician husband, Mark Hartsch.
This coincidence led to widespread speculation on social media, with many people linking Rahman and Dey. Rahman’s legal team immediately denied any connection between the two announcements.
As the rumors spread, Dey addressed the speculations in an Instagram post and strongly dismissed the link-up rumours. He expressed his admiration for Rahman as a “role model” and urged the media to respect his privacy, saying, “It is absolutely heartbreaking to see the amount of misinformation and baseless assumptions/claims against me and @arrahman. is unbelievable.”
4) woman 2 Success: Publicity fight over credit
woman 2 It became a huge hit at the box office, making Shraddha Kapoor one of the most sought-after actresses in Bollywood. But the success of the film reportedly triggered a behind-the-scenes credit war between its lead actors, Rajkummar Rao and Shraddha.
Reports indicate that Rajkummar Rao and Shraddha Kapoor’s publicists were caught in a social media battle, with each trying to take credit for the film’s victory. However, Shraddha downplayed this feud and admitted in an interview that the success of Stree 2 was the collective achievement of the entire cast and crew.
of faith woman 2 Co-star Aparshakti Khurana described the “PR game” as a “slightly unpleasant” aspect of the film’s success.
5) Poonam Pandey’s death rumour: A shocking marketing stunt
Model and reality TV star Poonam Pandey finds herself at the center of a death rumour. In February, news spread that 32-year-old Poonam Pandey died of cervical cancer. The announcement made by his manager praised his brave fight against the disease.
But the next day, Poonam Pandey revealed that she was alive and the death announcement was part of a campaign to raise awareness about cervical cancer.
The stunt sparked intense debate, with many criticizing the approach as insensitive. The marketing agency behind the fraud admitted its mistake and issued an apology.
6) Arshad Warsi’s ‘Joker’ jibe at Prabhas
Arshad Warsi came into controversy after describing Prabhas’ character in Kalki 2898 AD as a “joker” during an interview. Warsi said, “Prabhas, I am really sad, why was he…he was like a clown. Why?” This comment did not go down well with Prabhas’s colleagues and fans.
And, then Arshad Warsi issued a clarification. Speaking to ANI, he said, “Everyone has their own point of view and people like to interpret the noise. I talked about the character, not the person. He (Prabhas) is a brilliant actor and He has proven himself time and again, and we know about it.”
7)Sharmin Segal In Hiramandi: reaction to nepotism
Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s first OTT series, Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar, released on Netflix in May 2024, received praise, especially for the performances of Aditi Rao Hydari, Sonakshi Sinha, Manisha Koirala and Sanjeeda Sheikh.
However, Sharmin Seygall, who played the lead role in the series, found herself at the center of controversy. Many accused him of taking on the role due to nepotism, as Sharmin is Bhansali’s niece. Due to this he was trolled and many people raised questions on his acting ability.
8) Siddharth’s Pushpa 2 Fans’ crazy comments: Online reaction erupts
Actor Siddharth created a ruckus by making fun of the huge crowd of fans at Allu Arjun’s place. Pushpa 2 Promotional programs. In a viral video, he dismissed the importance of large crowds, claiming that they do not ensure quality.
Comparing the enthusiasm of the fans in Patna to the 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 field and organize something, people will show up. Allu Arjun’s fans did not like this comment of Siddharth.
Shocking: Siddharth compared Pushpa 2’s Patna event with the crowd coming to watch JCB construction????????????️ pic.twitter.com/BMyVUo3sWa
– Manobla Vijayabalan (@ManoblaV) 10 December 2024
9) Vikrant Massey’s ‘retirement’ shocked: Fans shocked, actor gave clarification
Vikrant Massey made headlines with an Instagram post announcing his “retirement” from acting.
At just 37 years old, the actor’s announcement caused confusion, with many wondering if he was leaving the industry forever. While some expressed support, others criticized his decision, questioning the timing. But Vikrant clarified the situation by saying that he is not retiring permanently.
He explained that the decision was driven by “creative fatigue” and a desire to prioritize his health and family. After consulting his wife Sheetal Thakur, he assured fans that this is not a break from acting but a temporary move to focus on personal well-being.
10) liver Controversy: Divya Khosla Kumar vs Karan Johar-Alia Bhatt
In one of the most dramatic showdowns of 2024, Divya Khosla Kumar accused Alia Bhatt of manipulating the box office numbers for her film. Liver.
Divya’s explosive Instagram post showed a picture of an empty cinema hall and claimed that Alia was buying tickets to boost the film’s opening numbers. Karan Johar responded with a cryptic message on social media, “The best speech given to fools is silence.”
Not one to back down, Divya hit back, “The truth will always offend the fools who oppose it.” But the drama did not stop here. Divya criticized Karan for using “abusive language” against her and accused him of “stealing” the idea.
He also drew parallels between liver and his own film Savi, It was claimed that the two shared almost the same story, with Savi being in the first production.
