As we get ready to bid adieu to the glorious 2015, we look back at all the Bollywood-related events that made our days more interesting, and our cuppas more enjoyable. Bollywood is perhaps the most happening of places for anyone who loves entertainment and a bit of drama in their lives. Other than the very entertaining movies that Bollywood churns out in plenty, it also makes sure to offer us its daily dose of gossip, scandals and also some happy moments.
Well, all this made our year all the more spicier, and we, along with our readers who joined in the various conversations through their insightful comments, rejoiced at the triumph of our stars, and mourned at some disappointments. All in all, a fantastic year of happenings in Bollywood. Let us have a dekko at them once again before we begin to welcome the new year, which surely is going to be as enjoyable and exciting!
Here are the events that kicked a storm in Bollywood...
1. Aamir Khan's comment on Intolerance
The year saw a lot of buzz about the growing 'intolerance' among Indians. When Aamir Khan touched upon the topic at a presscon in November, little did he know that one too many countrymen would take offence at his comment. Aamir had said, "As an individual, as part of this country as a citizen, we read in the papers what is happening, we see it on the news and certainly, I have been alarmed. I can't deny. I have been alarmed by a number of incidents. When I chat with Kiran at home, she says 'Should we move out of India?' That's a disastrous and big statement for Kiran to make....."
Well, the uproar to this comment was enormous. However, Aamir reacted to all the noise by issuing a statement which said that he and his wife Kiran do NOT wish to leave India. However, the perfectionist star mentioned that he stands by what he said and thanked the people who understood him, and stood by him.
Phew!
2. AIB Roast Controversy
The AIB Roast - a new comedy show format which was adapted in India by a team of people called 'AIB', involved throwing scripted insults and abuses at celebs who had given their consent for this kind of treatment. While Karan Johar was one of the hosts, Arjun Kapoor and Ranveer Singh were the official 'roastees', Deepika Padukone, Alia Bhatt and Sonakshi Sinha among others participated in it as the audience. When the 'censored' video was released a month or so after the event, it received a lot of backlash from many quarters. The video was pulled down from Youtube by the AIB team and the stars had to face the 'consequences'.
While Ranveer, Arjun and Karan received a lot of support from their Bollywood colleagues, there were some who condemned the show. Aamir Khan mentioned that the show was a violent and shameful act. Well, Aamir too got his share of flak for his comments on the show. All in all, a sad and murky business, and an embarrassment for all involved.
3. Bajirao Mastani Vs Dilwale
History repeated itself in Bollywood as Shah Rukh Khan's Dilwale clashed with Sanjay Leela Bhansali's mega movie 'Bajirao Mastani' on December 18th. The last time this happened was in 2007 when Shah Rukh Khan's 'Om Shanti Om' took on SLB's 'Saawariya'. During the time, OSO emerged as the winner, biting heavily into the profits of the Ranbir-Sonam starrer, which also happened to be their big debut.
This time SLB had high hopes from his hit jodi and the very hot couple Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone, They were joined by Priyanka Chopra in this larger-than-life movie. However, Dilwale is winning the race as of now though both the movies are faring well enough.
4. Shahid Kapoor's wedding
March 2015 brought the news of Shahid Kapoor's engagement to Mira Rajput. After a week or two of speculation, media houses were thrilled when Shahid made an official statement that read, "I'm not engaged yet but marriage is on cards this Dec. Please co-operate with me, I will let you know about everything soon." However, it seems that this groom did not wait until December after all. Shahid tied the knot with Mira on July 7th amidst a lot of fun and fanfare.
This was the year's big fat Bollywood wedding and Bollywood lovers sure went gaga over the lovely newly weds!
5. Deepika Padukone's alleged tiff with her on-screen dad Amitabh Bachchan
Deepika Padukone and Amitabh Bachchan received a lot of appreciation for their performances in the movie Piku. They sure rocked it as the father-daughter duo. However, when Deepika celebrated the success of the film, she did it without Big B.
A lot of eyebrows were raised when Deepika did not invite Mr Bachchan to the Piku success bash. Though Deepika later termed it as a 'technical failure', this mystery remains unsolved as to why Dippy missed to invite Big B on the big day.
6. The cold war between Deepika Padukone and Kangana Ranaut
It is often said that no two actresses can remain the best of friends in Bollywood. Deepika and Kangana sort of proved this point, this year. It all started when Deepika Padukone bagged a Best Actress award for Happy New Year last January. While on stage to receive her trophy, the leggy lass had dedicated her award to Kangana Ranaut.
However, post this, Kangana mentioned that Deepika never congratulated her performance in person, and so on and so forth but things took a downward spiral as far as the friendship between these two girls were concerned. Kangana also declared on an interview that she is 'Katti' (cross) with Deepika.
Well, the 'tu tu main main' between these two continues as of today too. However, Kangana in a lighter mood had once said, what she says should not be taken as the 'gospel truth'. Well, their personal rivalry aside, we love these two power house actors and wish that they continue to entertain us for a long time to come.
7. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Sonam Kapoor and Katrina Kaif in Cannes
The three divas of Bollywood graced the Cannes red carpet with style, this year. Aishwarya has the experience of 14 years at Cannes and it showed. She strutted down the red carpet with ease and mingled with international colleagues with much friendliness and warmth. Sonam Kapoor did justice to her 'fashionista' title. She has been a veteran at Cannes too, and both the times that she graced the red carpet, she brought with her, much style and grace. As for Katrina, it was her first time at Cannes, and apparently, she deliberately downplayed the style factor. She did mention in an interview that she did not wish to make a huge style statement. Well, at the time we did wish Katrina had shocked us with something extra-ordinary.
Well, cheers to our Cannes beauties!
8. Rani and Aditya Chopra are blessed with a daughter 'Adira'
Rani Mukerji and husband Aditya Chopra became proud parents to a baby girl this month. They named the little bundle of joy who was born at Mumbai's Breach Candy Hospital as Adira!
Veteran actor Rishi Kapoor had confirmed the same on Twitter and posted, "Rani and Aditya Chopra become proud parents to a baby girl named Adira. Congratulations!"
Uncle Uday Chopra too confirmed the good news and posted, "IT’S A GIRL!!!!!"
9. Katrina Kaif opens the Pandora's box about her love life
Katrina Kaif has always been known to guard her private life fiercely. However, in a surprising turn of events, Katrina opened up like never before in a recent interview. She bared her heart about her love life and her relationship with Ranbir Kapoor. Katrina made statements such as "I Fear My Man May Not Love Me Completely When Am At the Altar" and "I Am Not As Close To Ranbir's Family As I'd Like", which took Bollywood and its followers by storm.
10. Priyanka Chopra shines in the American TV series Quantico
Priyanka Chopra's American TV series Quantico aired this September and there has been no looking back for PC since then. Priyanka, who received rave reviews for her performance in the series, was much excited about this feat. Bollywood and its followers were proud of Priyanka and her achievements in the international circuits.
Way to go PC!
11. Salman Khan's alleged tiff with Aamir Khan
Salman Khan and Aamir Khan are both working on similar movies - Sultan and Dangal - which revolve around wrestling. There was therefore a buzz that these two fell out at a party. News was that Salman took offence to some of Aamir's comments and lashed out at him.
However, the two stars denied these rumours. When asked about it as a presscon, Salman said that no body can be cross with someone like Aamir, thus clearing the air completely. Well, though the stars are good with each other, the news of this tiff did kick a storm in Bollywood.
12. Deepika Padukone's Hollywood project
Deepika Padukone, the hottest and the reigning female star of Bollywood at the moment, created a roar when she posted a picture of herself with Hollywood star and producer Vin Diesel. To add to the excitement, Vin Diesel himself posted a picture of them too. Deepika was thus bombarded with questions about her Hollywood project.
Deepika replied to the rumours saying that nothing is finalised as of now. She said Vin Diesel is a good friend and if there is any new project, 'we will know soon'.
13. Deepika Padukone and Ranbir Kapoor's Tamasha hoopla
When ex-lovers Deepika Padukone and Ranbir Kapoor came together for Imtiaz Ali's movie Tamasha, it created quite a buzz in Bollywood. However, when they started promoting the film, they created quite an enormous uproar. The two co-stars seemed to be a little too close for comfort, thus raising eyebrows. During the time, Deepika made statements such as, "I still love Ranbir Kapoor", "Ranbir has the cutest boxers" and "Ranbir cannot marry until I let him", which took everyone by surprise.
However, the noise ended when the promotions did and all is well in the lovers' land.
14. The re-union of Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol in Dilwale
The much loved on-screen couple Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol re-united for Rohit Shetty's Dilwale this year. There was therefore a lot of excitement to see their chemistry in the movie. Not only did they display their crackling chemisty in the movie, but they also kept everyone entertained through the various movie promotion events.
Here's to SRK-Kajol's evergreen charm and the magic that it always brings.
15. Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan's Bigg Boss
It never fails to amuse when Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan get together for some fun. This time, Shah Rukh visited the sets of Salman Khan's Bigg Boss to promote his movie Dilwale. The two shot together for the Bigg Boss promo and they rocked it, didn't they?
These two have come a long way since their big fight some years back. They re-united a couple of years back at an Iftaar bash and there has been no looking back since. Whenever they get together, they manage to get the news circuits buzzing like never before.
16. When Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli's love was put through a test
India lost against Australia at the semi-final match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015. Anushka Sharma was in Sydney to support her beau Virat Kohli, however, India’s exit at the World Cup was blamed on the actress. Social networking websites were abuzz with criticism and offensive comments on the actress. This is not the first time Anushka became the target of Virat’s poor performance on the field. The actress was earlier called a ‘distraction’ when Virat was out of form on the field in an earlier match.
However, these two braved the storm together and came out of it stronger, as admitted by Anushka herself.
17. Sooraj Pancholi is accused for extricating late Jiah Khan's foetus
The late Jiah Khan's suicide news hit the headlines yet again, what with the CBI filing a charge sheet of the case. According to a report that re-surfaced, CBI had filed a chargesheet that provided some chilling details about Jiah's pregnancy, and how her then boyfriend Sooraj Pancholi aided her in the subsequent abortion and how the termination of pregnancy, which left her an emotional wreck, possibly leading to her suicide.
The case is ongoing and Sooraj, who debuted in Bollywood with the movie Hero this year, is fighting it out in court.
18. Salman Khan's hit and run verdict
The Bombay High Court declared its final verdict on Salman Khan's controversial 2002 Hit and Run Case. The actor was acquitted of the charges as prosecution failed to prove them.
"Hear it loud & clear: Salman Khan not guilty," declared the Bombay HC today. It further said that, "On the basis of evidence submitted by the prosecution, @BeingSalmanKhan can't be convicted."
This judgement came as a huge relief for the actor and his family, who have been tensed over the verdict of the case for years. Needless to say. Salman's fans and well-wishers were overjoyed.
19. Karisma Kapoor's divorce struggles
We know that Karisma Kapoor did not have a happy marriage with Sunjay Kapur. However, unfortunately for Karisma, even the divorce proceedings are not going smoothly.
Karisma and Sunjay tied the knot in 2003 but their marriage did not work for long. After many fights and patch-ups, Karisma moved out of her husband's house in 2009 and returned to Mumbai. Last December, they decided to end their 12-year long marriage and filed for divorce through mutual consent.
However, the divorce proceedings are getting murkier by the day as Sunjay apparently did not meet the financial commitments mentioned in the consent terms signed by the couple. Sunjay alleged that Karisma did not give him access to their children Samaira and Kiaan. This unfortunate deadlock created quite a buzz in Bollywood circuits.
20. The Bombay Velvet Debacle
Anurag Kashyap's most ambitious movie was in the news for quite some time for being, well, ambitious! It starred Ranbir Kapoor, Anushka Sharma and Karan Johar. A lot was said about the movie, which was made at a high risk, and which unfortunately did not pay off.
This debacle kicked quite a storm in Bollywood. Anurag was mocked and ridiculed whereas Ranbir was stamped as a 'hattrick' failure. Well, though disappointed and dejected, all the stars bounced back in a short span to take on new and interesting projects. Bombay Velvet, will however be remembered for the misery it caused to one too many.