2024, for the entertainment industry, was the year that stirred drama, sparked debates in the Indian film industry.
Credit: DH Photo, PTI Photos
You say shooting, we say ‘check if the Khans have tweeted’, you say death, we wonder ‘is it a campaign’, you say sequel, we plead PLEASE DON’T!
2024, for the entertainment industry, was the year that stirred drama, sparked debates, and was nothing short of a full-fledged Bollywood film that had the highest highs, lowest lows, and breaks only long enough for you to grab (un-sweetened) popcorn. (Boy, is that a whole other conversation!).
So, the year nears its end, it is time to look back at all that rocked the film industry and its fans this year.
Shockwaves in the Malayalam film industry
Water cannon being used by the police to disperse protesters against actors Mukesh and Siddique, accused of sexual assault, in Kochi.
Credit: PTI Photo
A news report that shook the entire entertainment industry in 2024 was the Hema Committee Report which exposed widespread sexual harassment in the Malayalam Film Industry. The report pointed out that the Malayalam film industry was in the clutches of some 'criminal mafias' and many actors, producers, and directors were involved in seeking sexual favours. Top actors and directors whose names popped up in cases of rape and sexual misconduct were Siddique, Ranjith, M Mukesh, and Idavela Babu among others.
Docu-drama
Superstars Nayanthara and Dhanush.
Credit: X/@NayantharaU, X/@dhanushkraja
Superstars Nayanthara and Dhanush locked horns this year with the latter’s lawsuit and the former’s letter being all people could talk about for the longest time. Dhanush served the actress a legal notice demanding Rs 10 crore over the use of BTS clips from their 2015 movie Naanum Rowdy Dhaan in her documentary Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale.
Responding to his suit, the actress posted a letter on social media where she wrote: "I wish you were half the person you portray to be on stage in audio launches in front of your innocent fans but clearly, you do not practice what you preach, at least not for me and my partner."
Reel hero becomes real villain
Actor Darshan.
Credit: DH Photo
This year was not in favour of South Indian cinema fans. In what came as a plot twist, the Kannada film industry’s beloved actor Darshan became a murder suspect in 2024 and was arrested for allegedly murdering his fan along with his friend, actor Pavithra Gowda, and 15 others.
No chill for the Khans
In this Sunday, July 21, 2013 file photo, then Congress leader Baba Siddique with actors Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan during an Iftar party, in Mumbai.
Credit: PTI File Photo
The Bhai and Badshah of Bollywood can only hope for a better 2025 after a tumultuous year full of death threats. Salman Khan seemed to be on the Lawrence Boshnoi gang’s radar. The actor not only received threats but there was also a shooting outside his house. Meanwhile, the accused behind the threat received by Shah Rukh Khan was arrested.
The year also witnessed the demise of politician Baba Siddique. A politician who allegedly died in the hands of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, Siddique was reportedly the reason behind the patch-up between Salman and SRK at his annual iftar party in 2013.
'Queen' slapped
Kangana Ranaut.
Credit: PTI Photo
Kangana Ranaut (who still awaits the release of her biopic on Indira Gandhi) always finds ways of making her way to the headlines time and again and this year despite her debut in politics and victory in Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi constituency, what broke the internet was when the actor-politician got slapped by a female CISF officer at the Mohali airport as the latter was upset over Ranaut’s stance on farmers' protests. Someone call security, it is an Emergenc- never mind that will take months.
Will they won’t they?
Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.
Credit: Reuters, PTI Photo
And they danced, and they cried, and they laughed and had a really really good time! Nah, some trends are best suited for five-second-long Instagram reels because, in reality, hearts were broken, tears were shed and paps were, whatever the acceptable synonym for nasty is. Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan have been in the news all year long over suspicion of the couple parting ways. Meanwhile, rumours had it that Abhishek had an alleged relationship with Nimrat Kaur and while paps fanned the gossip online, netizens maintained their character and assassinated Nimrat’s. However, the couple that did get separated was A R Rahman and Saira banu, after 29 years of marriage.
Cancer 'culture'
Model-actor Poonam Pandey.
Credit: Instagram/poonampandeyreal
People rising from the dead isn't always horrifying, it is also a relief (and a little frustrating if we are being honest). In February this year, the news of model and television personality Poonam Pandey’s death from cervical cancer shook the internet, until it didn’t. Soon after condolences started to pour in, the actress shared a video claiming her death announcement had a “greater purpose” of spreading awareness about cervical cancer.
The world finds 'Laapataa Ladies'
Filmmaker Kiran Rao during an interview after her film 'Laapataa Ladies' was picked as India's official entry for Oscars 2025, in Mumbai.
Credit: PTI Photo
While Bollywood delivered controversial films like Animal this year that sparked a debate on how much is too much when it comes to misogyny in cinema, it also gave us Laapataa Ladies, a movie about women, lost, both literally and metaphorically. The Kiran Rao directorial was India’s official entry for Oscar in the Best International Feature category. However, this movie failed to make it to the shortlist. Meanwhile, an official India-French co-production, All We Imagine As Light charted history by becoming the first Indian title from India to win the Grand Prix Award at the Cannes Film Festival in May. Filmmaker Payal Kapadia's movie even topped former US president Barack Obama's list of recommended films for 2024.
2024 vibe: Re-release > Sequel
Actors Vidya Balan and Kartik Aaryan pose for photos during the launch of a song.
Credit: PTI Photo
2024 was kinder to re-releases like Laila Majnu and Kal Ho Naa Ho compared to sequels like Bhul Bhulaiya 3 which received criticism for acting, direction, and dance. Yes, DANCE despite having both Madhuri Dixit and Vidya Balan! Oh, and speaking of sequels, can someone please tell the Singham makers - NEVER AGAIN! While we are on the topic, Pushpa 2, a sequel to Allu Arjun’s superhit Pushpa landed the actor behind bars with a case against him after a woman died in a stampede during the premiere of the movie. To be fair, not all the sequels in 2024 were a flop. Horror-comedy Stree 2 became the highest-grossing Hindi film of all time at the domestic box office with a collection of Rs 586 crore.