Bhubaneswar: As the famous saying goes, ‘The tongue has no bones, but it is strong enough to break a heart, so be careful with your words.’ It’s all the more relevant in case of eminent personalities.
When celebrities, who are considered to be role models, speak or comment without thinking, it often sparks debates and controversies.
Here are some controversial statements made by some of our celebrities in 2024:
1. Arshad Warsi found himself at the centre of controversy when he passed a comment about Prabhas’ appearance in the film ‘Kalki 2898 AD.’ Warsi compared Prabhas’ look in the film to a “joker”. It didn’t go down well with fans of the ‘Baahubali’ actor, who demanded an apology from Warsi.
2. Divya Khosla Kumar made some comments about the Alia Bhatt-starrer ‘Jigra’, which sparked a war of words between the actress and filmmaker Karan Johar. Sharing the picture of an empty cinema hall after the release of ‘Jigra’, Divya stated, “Halls are empty everywhere. Alia Bhatt really has a lot of heart… she bought the tickets herself and announced the fake collection.”
Soon after Divya’s snide remarks about Jigra’s slow opening, filmmaker Karan posted a cryptic comment on his social media handle — “Silence is the best speech to answer fools.” It was clear that Karan was calling Divya a fool, without taking her name. Divya then posted, “Truth will always offend fools opposed to it. When you are shamelessly accustomed to stealing what rightfully belongs to others, you will always seek shelter in silence. You will have no voice no spine.”
3. Ranbir Kapoor, during a conversation at the 50th International Film Festival of India, sparked a controversy when he shared that his wife Alia Bhatt didn’t know who Kishore Kumar was when they met. “She asked me who Kishore Kumar is,” said Ranbir. However, netizens didn’t like Ranbir’s remarks about Alia and accused him of portraying his wife negatively in public.
4. Rishab Shetty, the ‘Kantara’ actor, while speaking to MetroSaga in Kannada said that Bollywood movies represent India negatively and faced a backlash. “Indian films, particularly Bollywood, often portray India negatively. These so-called art films get showcased at international events and receive special attention. For me, my nation, my state, and my language are sources of pride. I believe in presenting them in a positive light to the world, and that’s exactly what I strive to do,” Rishab was quoted as saying by TOI.
5. Singer Abhijeet, asked by journalist Shubhankar Mishra about his indirect remarks on Salman Khan during the hit-and-run case, stated that he wasn’t referring to anyone in particular, but to those who drink and drive. “Maine kaha ye jo hota hai…road par soyenge to ek daarubaaz aayega daaru pike gaadi chadha dega tumhare upar. Road par kutte ki tarah so rahe ho. To ek daarubaaz aayega, ek tharki, ab kyu merese wo repeat karwa rahe ho…” clarified Abhijeet.
6. Kangana Ranaut, known for her controversial statements, said in an interview with Raj Shamani that Bollywood people are ‘dumb’ and self-centric. “Bollywood people are just so full of themselves. They are stupid, they are dumb, they are (all about) protein shake and that kind of a (life),” Kangana said.
