25 years of Sanjay Leela Bhansali: some of the director's films that courted controversy

Bollywood films and controversies go hand in hand and filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali is no stranger to them. From 'Guzaarish' to 'Goliyon Ki Rasleela Ram-Leela' to 'Padmaavat', his films have always managed to create a buzz. Call it protests or negative publicity, here's a quick round-up of Bhansali's films that made headlines for the controversies they courted.

#1 Guzaarish | 2010

Starring Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in the lead roles, 'Guzaarish' had its fair share of controversies. Veteran writer Dayanand Rajan had accused Bhansali of stealing the film's plot from his unpublished novel, 'Summer Snow'. Not just that, a lawyer had filed a plea in the Delhi High Court against the film for promoting mercy killing.

#2 Goliyon Ki Rasleela Ram-Leela | 2013

'Goliyon Ki Rasleela Ram-Leela' was initially titled 'Ramleela' but the film got embroiled in a controversy after several fringe groups raised objections over the title and content of the film, claiming the film showed two Hindu deities in the wrong light. However, the film which was made with a budget of just ₹48 crore managed to earn a whopping ₹220 crore at the box office.

#3 Bajirao Mastani | 2015
The descendants of the Peshwa and Chhatrasal dynasties staged a protest against 'Bajirao Mastani' claiming the film distorted historical facts. Protesters claimed Deepika and Priyanka's costumes in the song 'Pinga' were neither worn by women in royal families nor a part of their culture. The film showed Mastani and Kashibai in scenes together, whereas, in real life, Bajirao's wives met only once formally. 'Bajirao Mastani' was made with a budget of ₹145 crore but went on to rake in a whopping sum of ₹356 crore.

#4 Padmavat | 2017
Rumours of an alleged intimate scene in 'Padmavat' which was meant to be a dream sequence between a Hindu queen and a Muslim ruler, was fodder enough for Hindu fringe groups to call for a ban on the film. Matters spiraled out of control when protesters vandalised the film's set in Jaipur and threatened to chop off heads of Bhansali and Deepika. Continuous protests also forced some states to ban the film. However, the courts overturned the decision, citing fears of violence. The film which was made with a budget of ₹215 crore managed to earn a whopping sum of ₹585 crore.