Bollywood’s tumultuous 2025: Saif Ali Khan’s attack; Deepika Padukone's exit from 'Kalki-2898 AD' to 'Sardaar Ji 3' controversy

On January 16, Bollywood was rocked by an attack on actor Saif Ali Khan at his home in Bandra. The attacker, identified as Shehzad, allegedly gained access to Saif's home through an attempted robbery and caused substantial harm to Saif, including severe injury to his thoracic region. Saif was taken to Lilavati Hospital, where he remained for five days before being released on January 21. Although his injuries were not life-threatening, this incident raised serious concerns over celebrity safety and privacy. Following Saif's injury and subsequent media coverage, this controversy increased due to several insensitive social media posts by the public, as well as intrusive coverage by paparazzi.

Discussions around pay parity, nepotism, and representation took a new turn in 2025 with the debate over an eight-hour workday. The issue came into focus after Deepika Padukone reportedly exited major projects like ‘Spirit’ and the sequel to ‘Kalki 2898 AD.’ Reports suggested her decision was linked to demands for limited working hours and creative differences following motherhood. Deepika later addressed the matter publicly, stressing the need for fair and supportive work environments for women. The episode divided the industry, with actors and producers expressing differing opinions sharply.

Fans were caught off guard when Paresh Rawal announced his exit from ‘Hera Pheri 3’ after the film had already gone on floors. As stated by The Republic, the situation escalated when Akshay Kumar’s production house reportedly served the actor a legal notice. Although Rawal later returned to the project, the incident exposed friction within long-running franchises over fees and creative control. Even now, uncertainty remains around the film’s shooting schedule. Directed by Priyadarshan, the franchise stars Akshay Kumar as Raju, Suniel Shetty as Shyam, and Paresh Rawal as Baburao.

The romantic comedy ‘Bhool Chuk Maaf’ landed in legal trouble after its makers decided to skip a theatrical release and move directly to OTT. PVR Inox approached the Bombay High Court, alleging a breach of an exclusivity agreement. The makers announced that the film would stream on Amazon Prime Video on May 16, citing “heightened security drills across the nation,” just a day before its scheduled theatrical release on May 9. The case highlighted the growing friction between cinema chains and streaming platforms in the post-pandemic era.

Diljit Dosanjh received immense backlash when he cast Pakistani performer Hania Aamir in his recent film “Sardaar Ji 3.” Some social media users and many organizations within the entertainment community were outraged by this move, especially after the increasing national sensitivities that came in the aftermath of the recent Pahalgam terror attack. According to Republic, following FWICE and dissent from a portion of the entertainment industry, the production company declared that the movie wouldn’t be released in India. Regardless of this, Diljit promoted the project outside of India, thus perpetuating the controversy.

The unexpected death of businessman Sunjay Kapur on June 12, 2025, has sparked a storm of gossip and speculation surrounding his estate and inheritance issues. Sunjay was married to actress Karisma Kapoor for thirteen years, and they share two children together. He later wed Priya Sachdev, and upon his death, he left behind a complex legal situation regarding his estate that will likely remain unresolved for the foreseeable future. The result has created yet another chapter in the continuing saga of Bollywood scandals.