Bollywood films have often found themselves at the center of controversy, sparking heated debates and boycott calls before their release. Despite the uproar, some movies have managed to weather the storm, going on to receive critical acclaim and commercial success. This story explores the journey of such films, examining the controversies that surrounded them and their resilience in the face of adversity.
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Kangana Ranaut’s upcoming political drama ‘Emergency’ is the latest Bollywood movie that is facing boycott calls. Several Sikh groups, including Delhi’s Shiromani Akali Dal, have accused the makers of spreading misinformation. They urged the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to stop the film’s release, further saying that the film has the potential to inflict communal violence. Ranaut, who will play former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and has also directed the film, reacted to boycott calls and death threats against her, saying, “You can’t scare me. These people can’t scare me.” ‘Emergency’ will hit cinema halls on September 6.
Brahmastra Part One: Shiva
One of the biggest blockbusters of 2022, ‘Brahmastra Part One: Shiva’ faced trouble ahead of its release over Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt’s statements. Before the film’s release, Bhatt, in an interview, reacted to several films facing boycott calls. She said, “If you don’t like me, don’t watch me.” Soon, social media users started asking everyone to boycott her film. Days after her comments, users dug up Kapoor’s decade-old interview in which he was talking about his eating habits and his fondness for beef. After the interview resurfaced, many criticized the actor and asked for the film to be boycotted.
Netizens were quick in digging up old interviews of Aamir Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan, days before ‘Laal Singh Chaddha’ was set for its theatrical release in 2022. One of the larger reasons for the backlash that film faced was due to Aamir’s 2015 interview on growing intolerance in India, which made its way back on the net. The official Hindi remake of ‘Forrest Gump,’ ‘Laal Singh Chaddha’ suffered severely at the box office because of the boycott trend.
Telugu star Vijay Deverakonda was eager to make his Bollywood debut with ‘Liger’, but little did he know that it would turn out to be possibly the most controversial film of his career. Directed by Puri Jagannadh and backed by Karan Johar, ‘Liger’ faced boycott calls for various reasons, but mainly because Vijay supported Aamir’s ‘Laal Singh Chaddha.’ Many also accused Vijay of being arrogant. There were also users who protested against the film for Karan’s association with it.
One of the biggest controversial films of recent times is Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s periodical drama ‘Padmaavat.’ Starring Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh, and Shahid Kapoor, ‘Padmaavat’ saw multiple protests, especially in Rajasthan, leading to its boycott calls. Many accused that the movie depicted a dream sequence between Rani Padmavati and Allauddin Khilji. Despite the backlash it received, the film earned over Rs. 500 crore at the box office, becoming a major commercial success.
