2012: Top Controversies that Rocked Bollywood

Whether it's new films, new trends, new styles and techniques, or new faces, Bollywood never compromises. However, if there's one thing that will never leave our stars, it's controversy. Controversies play a crucial role in the public life of a celebrity. It can break your aura in a minute, and it can even keep you in the headlines for the longest time. Scandals come and go in a celebrity's life by the minute, and while most could be genuine, it's also quite often that baseless rumours are created to give a person or a film more footage. Some are big, some are small. But whatever be their nature, no celebrity manages to keep away.

We've seen most of our big stars tackle controversy this year. We've even seen starlets create senseless gossip. Here's a recap on the hottest controversies of 2012.

Shah Rukh Khan and "we've lost count" controversies -

If there's one star who just kept us on our toes this year, it was King Khan SRK. The poor fellow had the worst luck this year, getting embroiled into one controversy after the other. And just like Shah Rukh, who can 'forgive but not forget', we haven't forgotten either.

1. SRK slaps/punches Shirish Kundir - At a party hosted by Sanjay Dutt, Shirish supposedly got extremely sloshed and in his drunken stupor made a few nasty comments for Khan. When Shirish didn't comply after being told off by Shah Rukh, he was slapped by wife Farah's best friend. Apparently, Sanjay intervened before things turned uglier, but the damage was already done. Shirish announced it to the media as SRK made a getaway. This brawl made the dynamic duo, Farah and Shah Rukh part ways for some time. The latest is that both have let bygones be bygones, but Shirish is not ready to let go just yet.

2. SRK banned from Wankhede Stadium - It got ugly when a happy SRK brought some kids to Wankhede Stadium for the post-match presentation ceremony during the IPL back in May. What followed next was a scuffle between the superstar and the security guards at the stadium. Sources stated it was because Shah Rukh got offended after security got personal with him, while Shah Rukh stated it was because one of the personnel was rude to his daughter Suhana. He got enraged and a physical scuffle followed. The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) stated that the actor was banned from entering the stadium for five years for pushing and absuing officials. When SRK's team Kolkata Knight Riders won the IPL a few days later, it was the men in purple having the last laugh.

3. Shah Rukh and Priyanka Chopra having an affair? - While this is still heavily embroiled in controversy and most people feel its conjecture, the news did create headlines for a while. There were reports that during the shooting for Farhan Akhtar's Don 2, PeeCee and SRK got a little too close for comfort. While insiders claimed that the affiar was in fact true, it didn't help much that Priyanka and Shah Rukh's twitter was under constant scrutiny for being so in-tuned with each other. While its old news that Priyanka has had a crush on the superstar for the longest time, Gauri's alleged ignoring of Priyanka at various public dos spoke for itself. While Shah Rukh had to suffer a little breakdown at home, Priyanka had to face quite a bit of dirt on her own as well. The rumours were fuelled by Karan Johar's rants on twitter as well. It was all very ugly, and it's not even confirmed!

4. Rajesh Khanna's demise opens a Pandora's Box of demons - It was the death of a superstar, and the whole nation was mourning. While the audience, celebrities and fans alike were saddened due to the death of their beloved star, there were a few people who were mourning for all the wrong reasons. The late actor's lover Anita Advani didn't waste a day in sending a legal notice to protect herself for eviction from Khanna's bungalow, Aashirwad with a claim of Domestic Violence. Anita had been in a live-in relationship with Khanna for eight years. And while Rajesh's family including daughters Twinkle and Rinke, son-in-law Akshay and ex-wife Dimple wanted to convert the house into a museum, Anita claimed rightful ownership of the house. The family members claimed that all her claims were fabrication. Later, Advani even went to the extent of saying that Khanna sexually assaulted her in her teenage before their affair. Sadly, the one man who has been defamed in all this, is permanently unavailable for comment.

5. Aishwarya's Weight Gain - This is star power. Aishwarya can not do a film for three years, and still be in the news. But this time, her reason for hitting the tabloids was just plain sad. The gorgeous Ash was under constant scrutiny from pregnancy to delivery. And if it wasn't enough that her baby Aaradhya was the media's darling and still is, the actress was not left alone even during post-pregnancy weight gain. The actress who is a known face all over the world, was criticized immensely for not losing that weight fast enough. A video on the same went absolutely viral with people commenting negatively about her left and right. Apparently, it was her 'duty to look good.' what riled up the controversy even more was Aishwarya's public appearances at the Festival de Cannes in all her 'plus-sized glory.' All of the film fraternity supported her, and slowly the mean words dialled down. Now Aaradhya is the papparazzi's new obsession.

5. Saif Ali Khan's Taj Brawl - The Chhote Nawab is the epitome of courteousness and polite behaviour most of the times. So it was surely a shocker when Saif got into a legal hassle thanks to a brawl with an NRI dining in the same restaurant as him. Saif was hanging out with then girlfriend Kareena, Amrita Arora and her husband Shakeel at the Taj Hotel's Wasabi restaurant. After the next table complained that the celebs were making a bit too much noise, an argument ensued between Shakeel and the NRI seated at the complainer table. Saif interfered, only to punch the man in the face and break his nose. Thankfully he surrendered to the Police next day and because this was just a few days before the release of Saif-Kareena film Agent Vinod, it got them the much needed publicity.

7. Priyanka Chopra and Karan Johar cat-fight! - After rumours of the SRK-Priyanka affair surfaced, it got ugly even for their friends. While some reports say it was because Priyanka's friend made a few unwarranted statements about Karan, most believe it was in defense of good friend Gauri that Karan got miffed and called PeeCee 'spineless' on Twitter. They kept at their catfights for some time, even though Priyanka had just worked in Karan's Agneepath a few months ago. A few days later, Karan claims to have 'overreacted' and called Priyanka to apologise. They let bygones be bygones and even made a little stunt out of it on Jhalak Dikhla jaa, a dance show where Karan was the judge and Priyanka came as a guest to promote her film Barfi! All is well there now, or so we hope.

8. Son of Sardaar vs. Jab Tak Hai Jaan - Diwali is considered the best time to release a film. And producers literally jump for dates during that weekend. So it was obvious that when two films of such epic proportions were released simultaneously, sparks would fly. On one side was the Ajay Devgan comic caper Son of Sardaar, and on the other, was erstwhile director Yash Chopra's last directorial venture - a romance starring Shah Rukh Khan. The problem started when Ajay filed a legal complaint against Yashraj Films claiming that they had manipulated distributors and exhibitors in getting more screens for their film. Yashraj apparently blocked a majority of multiplexes and single screen leaving Ajay with a minimal number for his film. While we didn't hear much about it from yashraj, the controversy didn't leave us for about a month. Both films came, JTHJ with 2600 screens and SOS with 2000, enjoyed a fare share of business and left screens. People have now moved on to the new releases of year as both films didn't claim a long shelf life in terms of content or the box office.

9. Barfi! gets a Bollycat - While the film about a deaf-mute man's connection with an autistic woman blew the minds of fans and audiences alike, the Ranbir Kapoor-Priyanka Chopra-Ileana D'Cruz starrer was not safe from its share of controversy. Anurag Basu's directorial venture did well, but got immense flak from critics for as many as 22 long sequences which were lifted from external sources including Hollywood films of the likes of Gene Kelly, Charlie Chaplin and even The Notebook. After the news came out, there were videos on Youtube that started doing the rounds, people lashing on social networking sites about whether it deserved all the acclaim. To top it off, Barfi! was chosen as India's official entry for the Best Foreign Film Category at the Academy Awards due in February 2013. While the filmmakers and the choosing committee representatives claimed that the fact was not hidden from the audience and it was mere inspiration, many believe that the film being sent to a competition of that stature will bring shame. Other think it is a proud fact that the film has done so well. This issue is yet to be resolved as the shortlist will only be known by January 15.

What controversy stirred your mind the most?