It has become so easy to “offend” people and put yourself on the radar of trolls. So much so that nothing can be done or said freely. The most common victims of this phenomenon are our Bollywood celebrities. Anything they say during interviews and promotions can be used against them, and their films bear the brunt. The “cancel culture” got introduced into our lives as a result of this behaviour. The term “cancel culture” is a synonym for call-out culture. It means to boycott a film or a celebrity who is deemed to have acted or spoken in an unacceptable manner.
Over the last few years, several Bollywood films have been victims of the “cancel culture,” all for the most ridiculous reasons. Let’s take a look at some movies that received backlash for reasons that will make your eyes roll.
1. My Name Is Khan (2010)
My Name Is Khan, starring Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol, faced major setback when Vishva Hindu Parishad leader Praveen Togadia called for a boycott. The subsequent uproar was sparked by SRK’s disappointment over the exclusion of Pakistani cricketers from the Indian Premier League. The leader refused to let the film hit the floors until Shah Rukh gave out a public apology.
2. PK (2014)
This film’s poster depicted a naked Aamir Khan in the titular role, holding a strategically placed radio set. This triggered the moral police, resulting in a number of FIRs against the actor. Because of the film’s religious critique themes, things only got worse after its release. Several Hindu leaders publicly called for a boycott of the film. Baba Ramdev advocated for a social boycott of the film, claiming that it denigrated the Hindu culture.
3. Dangal (2016)
Kiran Rao, Aamir Khan’s ex-wife, revealed in 2015 that she felt unsafe in India, blaming it on the country’s growing intolerance of minorities. Aamir expressed similar sentiments. A certain section of audience decided to prove them right by taking immense umbrage, deeming the two as “anti-national”. This incident sparked widespread outrage because it occurred so close to the release of Aamir’s film, Dangal. The film’s posters were burned, and #BoycottDangal was trending on social media.
4. Padmaavat (2018)
Padmaavat was undoubtedly one of the biggest victims of this culture. The film was being chastised for allegedly containing a dream sequence in which Muslim ruler Alauddin Khilji is intimate with Hindu empress Padmavati. The director, Sanjay Leela Bhansali went out of his way to clarify that no such dream sequence appeared in the film. Regardless, the Karni Sena attacked the filmmaker, vandalised sets, and staged violent protests. Worse, a BJP minister announced a large reward for anyone who beheaded the director and the lead actors, Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh.
5. Laal Singh Chaddha (2022)
Aamir Khan has been a victim of the “cancel culture” several times in his career. His most recent film, Laal Singh Chaddha, was also threatened with a boycott. But what’s even more absurd is that it was for the same reason that his film Dangal was targeted. It all started when a section of the Internet dug up excerpts from Aamir’s 2015 interview about the “growing intolerance” in the country. The actor was forced to apologise for something he said over seven years ago. Well, some people in India clearly know how to hold a grudge.
6. Brahmastra (2022)
For a variety of reasons, Ayan Mukerji’s Brahmastra sparked controversy. It began as a social media boycott and evolved into a full-fledged street protest. During the film’s promotion, Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor visited the Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain. Bajrang Dal activists barred the couple from entering the temple. You ask why? Well, because they remembered that Ranbir spoke about his fondness for beef 11 years ago, in 2011. Unbelievable!
7. Pathaan (2023)
Pathaan, the upcoming film starring Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone, is the most recent addition to this list. Even before an official trailer got released, the film is being bombarded with boycott hashtags. It all started with the release of the film’s first music video, Besharam Rang. Many internet users criticised Deepika’s bikini and sensual choreography. The MP Home Minister has even threatened to boycott the film if certain scenes from the song are not rectified. He was also offended by Deepika wearing a saffron-colored bikini (a sacred colour in Hinduism) and being “groped” by Shah Rukh Khan, a Muslim man. Guts!
Sometimes it’s hard to believe just how free some people are. Why not just live and let live? Which film do you think was boycotted due to the most unbelievable reason?
Also Read: Pathaan Movie Review
Feature Image: Instagram
