Major CONTROVERSIES that shook the entertainment world- Year Ender 2025

The Saif Ali Khan Stabbing That Shattered Celebrity Security Myths

January began with a headline no one expected. Saif Ali Khan was stabbed inside his Bandra home in the early hours of January 16 after an intruder broke in. The accused, Mohammad Shariful Islam Shehzad, was arrested days later and charged with attempted robbery and assault.

The incident immediately raised alarming questions. How did someone enter a high-profile actor’s residence so easily? Why were security protocols so fragile in one of Mumbai’s most celebrity-heavy neighbourhoods?

Saif sustained serious injuries, including damage to his thoracic spine, and was rushed to Lilavati Hospital, where he remained under treatment for five days before being discharged on January 21. Mumbai Police later filed a massive chargesheet running over a thousand pages, citing CCTV footage, forensic evidence, and witness statements. What intensified public anger was not just the crime, but the response. Tone-deaf social media jokes surfaced. Paparazzi crowded the hospital, filming family members at close range. Instead of restraint, the tragedy became content.

Deepika Padukone vs Sandeep Reddy Vanga and the Eight-Hour Workday Debate

Few exits caused as much ripple as Deepika Padukone stepping away from Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Spirit. Reports suggested disagreements over work hours, profit-sharing, creative control, and scheduling. Around the same time, she also exited the sequel to Kalki 2898 AD.

At the center of it all was one demand that ignited the industry. An eight-hour workday. Fresh into motherhood after welcoming her daughter in 2024, Deepika reportedly asked for structured work hours. What could have remained a private negotiation turned into a full-blown debate when cryptic social media posts appeared, followed by pointed interviews.

Without naming anyone, Deepika spoke about how male superstars have negotiated similar conditions for years without backlash. When a woman does it, it becomes a controversy.

The discussion quickly expanded beyond one actress. It touched pay disparity, motherhood penalties, gendered expectations, and the unspoken grind culture of Indian cinema. Producers and actors publicly took sides. Some called it impractical. Others called it overdue.

By year’s end, the eight-hour workday was no longer a demand. It was a mirror.

Hera Pheri 3 and the Paresh Rawal Exit That Panicked Fans

When Paresh Rawal announced his exit from Hera Pheri 3 after the film had already gone on floors, fans reacted with disbelief. Baburao without Rawal felt unimaginable. What followed was weeks of speculation, reports of legal notices from Akshay Kumar’s production house, and whispers of creative disagreements and compensation disputes. For a franchise built on nostalgia, the fallout felt unusually public.

Although Paresh Rawal eventually rejoined the project, the damage was done. Questions lingered. Was this about money? Creative fatigue? Control? Akshay Kumar later clarified that the legal disagreement was real, not a publicity move, and that his relationship with Paresh Rawal remained respectful. As of now, the film’s timeline remains uncertain. Fans wait, cautiously.

Pakistani Actors, Digital Bans, and the Politics of Visibility

In April 2025, following a terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, India restricted digital access to several Pakistani actors and public figures. Instagram accounts of stars like Mahira Khan, Hania Aamir, and Ali Zafar became inaccessible to Indian users. Soon after, Abeer Gulaar, starring Fawad Khan and Vaani Kapoor, was barred from releasing in India. Protests erupted despite the trailer and posters already being public. In early July, when some Pakistani actors’ accounts briefly became visible again, speculation spread rapidly. Was the ban lifted? Was it a glitch? Industry bodies like AICWA reacted strongly, demanding a complete digital blackout. The accounts were quickly restricted again.

This controversy highlighted a new battleground. Not cinema halls, but algorithms. Who gets seen? Who gets erased? And how politics decides art’s reach.

Smriti Mandhana, Palaash Muchhal, and a Wedding That Never Happened

Cricket star Smriti Mandhana’s wedding to composer Palaash Muchhal was expected to be a quiet celebration in November. Instead, it turned into a storm.

First came news of her father’s health emergency, leading to the postponement. Then reports surfaced that Palaash himself was hospitalised due to uneasiness. Sympathy poured in. Soon after, leaked alleged chats appeared online, showing Palaash courting Smriti while reportedly being in another relationship. Reddit threads exploded. Instagram unfollows were noticed instantly. Cryptic posts followed.

By early December, the couple confirmed the wedding was off, without offering detailed reasons. The silence only fueled speculation. The controversy exposed how private crises can be hijacked by digital voyeurism, leaving little room for dignity or healing.

India’s Got Latent, Samay Raina, and Comedy Crossing the Line

Samay Raina’s India’s Got Latent came under fire after a clip featuring Ranveer Allahbadia went viral. A question involving parents and sexual content sparked outrage. The backlash was swift and brutal.

The episode also included creator Apoorva Mukhija, whose remarks led to legal trouble. Ranveer issued a public apology, admitting the joke lacked humor and sensitivity. This controversy reopened an old debate. Where does comedy end and harm begin?

Earlier in the year, the Supreme Court had already reprimanded Raina and other comedians for insensitive remarks about persons with disabilities, directing them to issue unconditional apologies. Raina complied in October. 2025 made one thing clear. Shock value is no longer protected by irony.

In early May, a single Instagram like from Virat Kohli’s verified account on a fan page post of actress Avneet Kaur triggered memes, jokes, and speculation involving his marriage to Anushka Sharma.

The noise grew loud enough for Kohli to address it directly. He explained via Instagram Stories that the interaction was unintentional, possibly caused by clearing his feed. Avneet responded with grace at a film event, choosing humour over escalation. The incident may have been minor, but it showed how even the smallest digital movement by a public figure can snowball into discourse, judgment, and narrative-building.

Sunjay Kapur’s Death and the Inheritance Battle That Followed

The sudden death of Sunjay Kapur, Karisma Kapoor’s former husband, in June 2025 was followed by grief and then legal conflict. Karisma’s children, Samaira and Kiaan, reportedly challenged the validity of their father’s will, alleging forgery. Their stepmother, Priya Sachdev Kapur, became part of a legal dispute over inheritance, access to assets, and educational expenses.

The matter moved from private mourning to courtroom scrutiny, reminding everyone that celebrity families do not escape legal complexity, even in loss.

Govinda and Sunita Ahuja’s Public Marital Strain

Rumours of divorce surfaced early in the year and were initially dismissed. But repeated comments by Sunita Ahuja about Govinda being “not a good husband” kept the conversation alive. She hinted at infidelity, admitted she had no proof, and acknowledged that they might be living separately. Reports of a younger Marathi actress added fuel. Despite public appearances meant to squash rumors, the marriage remained under constant speculation. The controversy highlighted how long-term relationships, when exposed to fame, rarely stay private.

Diljit Dosanjh, FWICE, and Sardaar Ji 3

Diljit Dosanjh faced backlash for casting Pakistani actress Hania Aamir in Sardaar Ji 3 during heightened India-Pakistan tensions. FWICE and social media users criticized the decision strongly.

The makers announced the film would not be released in India, though it premiered overseas on June 27. Diljit continued promoting the film online, drawing further criticism. The debate wasn’t just about casting. It was about nationalism, artistic freedom, and timing. Once again, cinema stood at the crossroads of politics.

Aryan Khan, Sameer Wankhede, and the Satire That Went to Court

Aryan Khan’s directorial debut series The Ba**ds of Bollywood landed in legal trouble when former NCB officer Sameer Wankhede filed a defamation suit.

Wankhede alleged that a character resembling him was portrayed maliciously and that the show was a personal vendetta disguised as satire following the 2021 Cordelia cruise case. He sought the removal of scenes and an injunction. The case reignited debates around creative freedom, real-life inspiration, and accountability in storytelling.

Dharmendra’s Death Hoax and Journalism’s Lowest Moment

In November, false reports claimed Dharmendra had passed away at 89. The news spread rapidly, causing panic and grief. The family quickly denied the rumours, with Hema Malini and Esha Deol issuing clear statements. Yet journalists crowded hospitals, forcing Dharmendra’s son to publicly confront intrusive reporting.

Several celebrities who had posted tributes later retracted them. The incident became a case study in misinformation, haste, and ethical collapse in the race for clicks. Dharmendra, after being shifted to house care following his health scare, lost his life on 24th November 2025. His body was taken to the Pawan Hans ground for the last rites without any noise. The family also avoided public announcement later and had a rather quiet farewell for the late superstar.