Bollywood and controversy go hand in hand. 2021 saw its share of surprising incidents that became drawing room conversations across the country. There was plenty of fuel for netizens, from high-profile arrests to I-T raids on celebs. Let's take a look at some of the major events that shook the tinsel town this year.
Aryan Khan's arrest in the Mumbai drugs on cruise case
The arrest of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan Khan by the NCB in a drugs case sent shock waves across the country. Aryan was arrested and charged with procuring, possession and distribution of drugs. After 26 days in custody, Aryan Khan was released on bail. There was a massive outpouring of support from Bollywood even as the 23-year-old star kid became the victim of a massive media trial, with the whole nation being tuned into day-by-day updates in the case.
The NCB extended his probe to several other celebs in Bollywood and daughter of Chunky Panday, actor Ananya Panday, was also grilled in connection with Aryan's case. While Ananya was not a suspect, her laptop and phone was seized, and her home in Bandra was also raided by NCB sleuths.
Raj Kundra's arrest in the porn racket case
Raj Kundra, Shilpa Shetty's husband and businessman, made headlines for all the wrong reasons when he was arrested in July by the Mumbai police on charges of making and distributing adult videos via a mobile app. The case unravelled when several smaller actresses including Poonam Pandey, Sherlyn Chopra, made serious claims against Kundra. Kundra was granted bail in September, and his actress wife Shilpa Shetty denied any link whatsoever to the case, but the case sent tongues wagging in Bollywood.
Sonu Sood raided by Income Tax sleuths
Sonu Sood had emerged as a messiah during the Covid-induced lockdown with his outreach to help the poor and the needy, but fans were shocked when Income Tax department officials suddenly raided the actor's house and offices in September. The I-T sleuths said the raids were in connection with alleged tax evasion, but the actor refuted all claims. Many said, Sonu Sood was a political target, because of his links with a certain party.
Raids on Bollywood celebs didn't stop there. Actor Taapsee Pannu was also targeted by the tax authorities, putting her under public scrutiny. Officials say they found 'proof of cash receipts to the tune of Rs 5 crore', but the actor rubbished these claims.
Jacqueline Fernandez, Nora Fatehi under ED scanner in money laundering case
When the Enforcement Directorate unearthed a Rs 200 crore money laundering case involving conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar, they cast their net wider after Sukesh in his interrogation named Bollywood A-listers who he had showered with expensive gifts.
The ED questioned actors Jacqueline Fernandez and Nora Fatehi as they were alleged beneficiaries of laundered money. Selfies of Jacqueline with Sukesh went viral on social media and that added more fuel to fire. But the most fascinating details of the case emerged as people got to know what gifts these Bollywood heroines received. From Range Rover to Mini Cooper, from diamond jewellery to private jet chartered trips, from Chanel to Gucci to Hermes, expensive Persian cats and even horses, it clearly took a lot to impress Bollywood heroines.
'Queen' of controversy Kangana Ranaut
Kangana Ranaut dominated headlines throughout the year, whether it was sparring over multiplex owners over the release of her film 'Thalaivii' or the farmers protest or for dropping outrageous comments on social media, so much so that Twitter actually suspended Kangana's account this year!
Kangana triggered a storm after she called farmers from Punjab who were protesting at Delhi's borders for over a year on the farm laws, Khalistani terrorists! She had an explosive spat with singer Diljeet Dosanjh on Twitter, where they both took digs at each other.
Kangana went on to win her fifth national film award for Thalaivii, along with the Padma Shri for her contribition to cinema, but she stirred the hornet's nest, this time, when at a media event, she said, what India got in 1947 was 'bheekh' not freedom, and India got its true freedom when Modi came to power in 2014. Not just Bollywood, several political leaders, including many in the BJP asked for her Padma Shri award to be taken back, for denigrating the sacrifices made by India's freedom fighters.
Kartik Aaryan removed from 'Dostana 2' by Karan Johar
Fans were ecstatic when Dharma Productions announced that Kartik Aaryan, Janhvi Kapoor, and Lakshya would be teaming up for Karan Johar's film 'Dostana 2'. But their joy was short-lived, as after a month of filming, in a public announcement it was revealed that Kartik had been dropped from the project. While Kartik and the producers preferred to remain cryptic, about his dramatic exit from the film, reports said, Kartik was asked to go due to his unprofessional behaviour.