Bollywood Yearender 2022: From Deepika Padukone’s saffron bikini in Besharam Rang to Ranveer Singh’s oops photoshoot, the biggest controversies
The year 2022 saw many Bollywood stars landing in trouble and being trolled for some legitimate and bizarre mistakes. Even though they are still in the news, we take you down memory lane on the controversies that dogged Bollywood this year.
Tinsel town shines bright like a diamond as the year ends but it has a dark side as well. The actors, who we think are living the good life, land in trouble very often due to their slightest mistakes.
Hindi cinema is already suffering the ill-effects of the trend of films getting boycotted, and amid this armtwisting, many actors, filmmakers are blasted for their comments, tweets or even the dresses they wear or even when they don’t.
2022 saw a number of Bollywood stars in deep hot water and being trolled for some legitimate and bizarre mistakes. Even though they are still in the news, we take you down memory lane on the controversies that dogged Bollywood this year.
Deepika Padukone’s saffron bikini in Besharam Rang
As soon as the Shah Rukh Khan-Deepika Padukone starrer Pathaan’s song Besharam Rang was released, it won kudos and love from the fans but also a lot of criticism from the BJP functionaries and right wing organisations.
Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra said the green and saffron colours of the actors’ clothing, as well as the song’s lyrics and the movie’s title, all need to be fixed before the movie’s release in January 2023. Many other Hindu outfits staged protests across the country, demanding a ban on the film.
Ranveer Singh charged after his naked photoshoot
Ranveer Singh has previously been the subject of jokes because of his zany wardrobe choices, which frequently shock the eyeball.
But in September this year, he dropped every bit of them! The actor went buck naked for a photoshoot for PAPER magazine.
An FIR was filed against him in Mumbai and a number of social activists even launched a campaign to collect clothes for the actor.
IFFI jury chief Nadav Lapid and The Kashmir Files
The Kashmir Files, directed by Vivek Agnihotri, grabbed attention throughout the year. Israeli director and IFFI jury chair Nadav Lapid said the film was vulgar and propaganda, which sparked a heated discussion.
Chair of the Jury of Goa Film Festival says that the Jury felt that Kashmir Files was a vulgar propaganda film, inappropriate for the film festival pic.twitter.com/FKTF93ZlRY
Lapid made several comments against the film during the closing ceremony of the 53rd IFFI, which sparked debate against him. Some defended him, while others accused him of being unsympathetic to the plight of Kashmiri Pandits.
Kaali Poster controversy
Leena Manimekalai, an Indian documentary maker, posted the poster she curated for her film Kaali, which kicked up a row. The depiction of Goddess Kali smoking a cigarette in this poster offended many people.
In addition to smoking, the poster showed the actress portraying Kali holding a trishul in one hand and the LGBTQ pride flag in the other. Many said that the Hindu deity was being disrespected and called for the filmmaker to face harsh punishment. After the outcry, the filmmaker was the target of numerous FIRs, but she stood her ground.
Jacqueline Fernandez, Nora Fatehi get ED summons
Bollywood actors Jacqueline Fernandez and Nora Fatehi were summoned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the money laundering case launched against alleged conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar.
Chandrashekhar was introduced to both actors by Bollywood actor Pinky Irani. In August, the ED’s Delhi office summoned Fatehi, and in September, the ED repeatedly recorded Fernandez’s statement for the case.
Richa Chadda’s Galwan moment
The Gangs of Wasseypur actor was the recipient of harsh criticism for her reply “Galwan says Hi” to a tweet quoting the Northern Command GOC-in-C saying the Indian Army was prepared to wrest back Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Akshay Kumar was among the celebrities who criticised Richa Chadda for her comment. Veteran actor Prakash Raj, a Modi critic, defended her and denounced Akshay Kumar. She also faced backlash from Shiv Sena spokesperson Anand Dubey, who demanded stern action against the “anti-national” actor from Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde and Home Minister Amit Shah.
Sajid Khan in Bigg Boss 16 and #MeToo
In October 2021, the #MeToo movement converged on Bigg Boss Season 16 when Sajid Khan was listed as a participant.
Khan had been accused of sexually harassing nine women. Due to his nomination, actors Ali Fazal, Mandana Karimi, Sherlyn and Saloni Chopra, as well as singer Sona Mohapatra, all demanded that he be kicked off Bigg Boss. But Bigg Boss, as we know, thrives on any publicity, good, bad or the #MeToo kind.
Dhanush divorces Aishwarya Rajinikanth
Cinema is where romance and real-life love stories are brought to life, as seen in the Dhanush and Aishwarya Rajinikanth’s divorce.
Divorces and breakups occasionally make the news, though. The couple had two sons after their wedding in 2004. They requested that people respect their privacy when they announced their separation earlier this year on social media.
Sunny Deol’s Border 2 continues its impressive run at the domestic box office, edging closer to the Rs 300 crore mark by the end of its second week. The war drama, which hit theatres on January 23, has shown consistent collections since its release.
On its second Tuesday, the film earned an estimated Rs 5.75 crore, taking its total earnings to Rs 286.75 crore after 12 days.
Border 2 box office performance so far
The film matched its Monday earnings on February 3, adding Rs 5.75 crore to its tally. With this, Border 2 has managed to hold firm on weekdays, a sign of sustained audience interest.
The film delivered a robust opening week, collecting Rs 224.25 crore, supported by the extended Republic Day holiday period.
Second weekend boosts collections
The second weekend provided another lift to the film’s box office numbers. Friday saw collections of Rs 10.75 crore, followed by Rs 17.75 crore on Saturday. Sunday emerged as the strongest day of the weekend, contributing Rs 22.5 crore to the total.
Monday, which coincided with Republic Day, turned out to be the film’s highest single-day performer so far, with earnings touching Rs 59 crore.
With its current pace, Border 2 has already surpassed the opening weekend figures of Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar.
Border 2 review
In a review, film critic Saibal Chatterjee noted that Border 2 succeeds in highlighting the courage of soldiers while also touching upon their emotional vulnerabilities. The film explores themes of separation, loss, fear, and hope, presenting moments of heroism amid personal struggles.
About the film
Directed by Anurag Singh, Border 2 features an ensemble cast including Sunny Deol, Diljit Dosanjh, Varun Dhawan, and Ahan Shetty. Set against the backdrop of the 1971 India-Pakistan war, the film is positioned as a spiritual successor to the 1997 classic Border.
Dhurandhar has finally made its much-awaited debut on Netflix, just days after the Ranveer Singh-starrer completed a blockbuster theatrical run across India. While the film crossed Rs 1,000 crore domestically and went past Rs 1,300 crore worldwide, its OTT release has triggered confusion and criticism over its shorter runtime.
Several viewers took to social media early Friday, claiming that a “censored” version of Dhurandhar was streaming on Netflix. The runtime displayed on the platform is 3 hours and 25 minutes, nearly nine minutes shorter than the film’s originally reported duration of 3 hours and 34 minutes.
What caused the runtime difference
The confusion stems from changes made after the film’s initial theatrical release. According to the revised censor certificate, Dhurandhar now has an approved runtime of 3 hours 28 minutes and 56 seconds. This updated version replaced the earlier cut in cinemas starting January 1.
The revision followed directions to mute two specific words and one dialogue referring to the Baloch community. These changes were implemented without removing scenes, resulting in a marginally shorter runtime.
What viewers noticed on Netflix
Audiences streaming the film on Netflix observed muted portions during a scene involving Sanjay Dutt’s character, SP Chaudhary Aslam. In the original version, the dialogue included a direct reference to a former Baloch police partner. In the revised cut now available on Netflix, those references are muted, while English subtitles offer a generalised translation without naming the community.
Some viewers also pointed out that the film appears to play slightly faster on the platform, contributing to the perception that content had been trimmed.
Is Netflix streaming a censored cut
Industry insiders have clarified that Netflix is carrying the final theatrical version approved by the authorities. As an OTT distributor, the platform uploads films exactly as provided by the producers. The version streaming online is the same revised cut that has been screening in theatres since January.
Importantly, the film’s intense and graphic depiction of violence remains unchanged in the OTT version.
In short, Dhurandhar on Netflix is not a specially edited or censored cut for streaming. It is the updated theatrical version, adjusted for muted dialogue and presented with a slightly faster frame rate.
Following its OTT release, audiences can now look ahead to the sequel, Dhurandhar: The Revenge, scheduled for release on March 19, 2026.
Border 2 has made an impressive start at the Indian box office, collecting Rs 30 crore on its opening day. The war drama, headlined by Sunny Deol along with Varun Dhawan, Ahan Shetty and Diljit Dosanjh, opened to largely positive audience and critical response.
According to industry tracking data, the film recorded an overall occupancy of 32.1 per cent on day one. Night shows contributed the highest footfall, indicating strong word-of-mouth towards the end of the day.
Strong show count and urban traction
Border 2 was screened in nearly 6,000 shows across the country on its opening day. Major centres reported heavy traction, with over 1,000 shows in Mumbai and more than 1,500 shows across the Delhi-NCR region. Trade sources noted that urban circuits played a key role in pushing the film past the Rs 30 crore mark.
The opening performance places Border 2 ahead of Dhurandhar, which collected Rs 28 crore on its first day despite having a similar nationwide show count. Dhurandhar later saw consistent growth over its opening weekend, a trend that Border 2 is also expected to follow.
Career-best opening for key cast members
Border 2 has emerged as the biggest opening-day film in the careers of Varun Dhawan, Ahan Shetty and Diljit Dosanjh. For Varun Dhawan, the film marks his first box office success since Bhediya in 2023. Ahan Shetty, who made his debut with Tadap in 2021, has registered his first theatrical hit with the war drama.
For Sunny Deol, however, Border 2 does not surpass the opening records of Gadar 2, which remains his highest-grossing film with a worldwide collection of Rs 686 crore.
Dhurandhar sees slowdown after Border 2 release
Meanwhile, Dhurandhar’s box office run has slowed following the release of Border 2. The film reportedly earned under Rs 1 crore for the first time in nearly 50 days, reflecting the impact of the new release.
Directed by Anurag Singh and produced by JP Dutta and Nidhi Dutta, Border 2 also features Sonam Bajwa and Mona Singh in prominent roles.
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