Sting like a King Bee

This was one sting operation that really raised a stink. India TV's sensational exposes on the film industry targeted screen villain Shakti Kapoor, (who, all agree, came off looking like quite the gentleman because he didn't force himself on the girl) and anchor Aman Verma (who quite frankly could use the casting couch himself to get a few roles). Ruchi, a journalist, posed as an aspiring actress and approached these stars for roles. Poor Shakti was in the dock for shooting his mouth off about top Bollywood actresses who had been cast via the couch, while Aman didn't really have a chance to react before the producer and camera crew jumped out of the shadows.

To their credit, many stars from the industry rallied around in support. Govinda, Arbaaz Khan, director Sunil Darshan, Ravi Chopra, Pehlaj Nihalani, Raj Kanwar, David Dhawan, Vashu Bhagnani and Salman Khan, who was the most vociferous. His statement: "Nowadays my mother tells me beta so ja nahi to Ruchi aa jayegi" (Go to sleep or Ruchi will come for you), became as famous as "Kitne aadmi the..." India TV eventually backed off with its tail between its legs and the sting operation lost its zing.

MMS = Morphed Movie Stars

What started of as schoolboy machismo, ended in a global scandal that dominated every major newspaper and TV channel. The chief executive of a major company was jailed, and a diplomatic row brewed between India and America, with Condoleezza Rice taking a personal interest in the matter. We're talking about the 17-year-old Indian schoolboy who used his camera phone to record his girlfriend performing oral sex. The boy was tracked down by cops, faced court and was expelled from his school. His 16-year-old girlfriend was reportedly packed off to Canada, but did the matter end there? No, MMSes poured in — Shahid Kapoor and girlfriend Kareena were caught canoodling at a pub, Trisha in the shower and Riya Sen-Ashmit Patel in the act. Mallika 'Lolly' Sherawat, Preity Zinta and Manisha Koirala, were all passed from phone to phone. None were spared, not even India's sweetheart, Sania Mirza. "Morphed!" became the new mantra, yet no one could prevent the public from carrying around uncomfortable mental images of their idols in flagrante.