Check Out Bollywood’s Most Controversial Movie Posters
Posted On: 11 Jul 2023 | Last Updated : 11 Jul 2023 | Views : 1.1k
Movie posters are known to be the face of a movie that creates a significant impact in the audiences’ minds giving them an idea as to what the flick could be about. A poster is often designed very carefully to set the tone and buzz for a movie before it arrives in the theatres. However, several Bollywood movie posters were appreciated for concealing more than revealing for what it contained setting in a curiosity among movie buffs, but at times some posters created big controversies landing the makers and actors in trouble from accusations of nudity to indecency. Here are a few Bollywood movie posters that created controversies.
1. Ram Teri Ganga Maili (1985)
Raj Kapoor’s Ram Teri Ganga Maili went on to become one of the most controversial movie posters of Bollywood in the 80s. The poster landed into a conflict because the movie’s leading lady, Mandakini appeared in a white saree under a waterfall which turned see-through, and as a result, people objected to the nudity being displayed on the film’s poster.
2. Ek Chhotisi Love Story (2002)
Mention Bollywood film posters created controversies we have Shashilal Nair’s Ek Chhotisi Love Story starring Aditya Seal, Manisha Koirala, and Ranvir Shorey. The film which revolved around a 15-year-old teenage boy who keeps a constant watch on her beautiful neighbour ran into controversy when the women's wing of Shiv Sena set fire to the posters of the film at a theatre and also stopped its screening for being obscene. The lead actress, Manisha Koirala demanded a stay order on the film alleging the makers for using her body double to shoot some intimate scenes in the film without her permission. However, despite all the controversies surrounding it, the film bombed at the box office.
3. Julie (2004)
Neha Dhupia’s Julie which revolved around a small-town girl who wants to make it big as a model and actress in the world of showbiz ends up being a part of the casting couch. The movie’s bare-body poster showing Neha Dhupia lying down on the bed covered with a piece of cloth raised many eyebrows. However, despite having plenty of skin show the flick couldn’t do well at the box office.
4. Paap (2004)
The poster of Paap displayed Udita Goswami in a very sensuous bare-body pose with John Abraham which naturally gave birth to a few controversies. Many groups not just found the poster obscene and vulgar but also the subject of the content. Pooja Bhatt’s directorial debut Paap sank without a trace and is only remembered for its poster and a few steamy scenes between the lead pair.
5. Kurbaan (2009)
Rensil D'Silva’s Kareena Kapoor Khan and Saif Ali Khan starrer Kurbaan also figure among Bollywood movie posters that created controversies. The movie’s poster got embroiled in controversy just before its release for displaying Kareena’s bare back. Political party Shiv Sena objected to the movie's poster demanding the makers either change the poster or cover her bare back. The party even sent Kareena a saree, urging her to cover up.
6. Dunno Y... Na Jaane Kyun (2010)
One of the first Bollywood LGBTQ movie posters Dunno Y... Na Jaane Kyun was a gay film that was also embroiled in controversies over its content. The film which revolved around the issue of gay relationships sensitively, had its poster depicting two bare-bodied males - the film's lead actors Kapil Sharma and Yuvraaj Parashar, in a passionate embrace. Though the film didn't find many takers at the ticket windows it managed to create enough buzz, thanks to its controversies.
7. Guzaarish (2010)
Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Guzaarish’s movie poster too stirred up quite a controversy for showing the female lead Aishwarya Rai smoking. The poster raised many questions from all quarters especially, the medical community which was up in arms against the movie’s poster saying that it unveiled an unhealthy message to the youth over smoking issues.
8. The Dirty Picture (2011)
One of the most controversial Hindi movie posters was that of Vidya Balan starrer The Dirty Picture. Though the film did great business it had its share of controversies too. One of them was due to the poster of the movie which was considered too obscene that could have an ill effect on the minds of citizens and harm the society. The city court of Andhra Pradesh instructed the police to book Vidya Balan for giving indecent poses in the posters and other promotional material under relevant sections of IPC and also under the Indian Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986.
9. Jism 2 (2012)
Director Pooja Bhatt’s Jism 2’s poster was mired in controversy when protest groups in Amritsar found it obscene and took to burning down dummy models of Sunny Leone who was making her Bollywood debut. The groups protested against the makers for violating the accepted standards of propriety.
10. Hate Story (2012)
Vivek Agnihotri’s Hate Story’s movie poster ran into a controversy when the West Bengal Censorship Board objected to showing the film’s lead actress, Paoli Dam’s bare back. The Calcutta High Court subsequently prohibited the display of the poster until the protagonist’s back was painted in blue in a bid to tone down the risqué element of the movie poster.
11. Nasha (2013)
Poonam Pandey’s debut film Nasha’s initial movie poster was too bold when released. Directed by Amit Saxena, the film’s poster came in for a lot of flak and was accused of nudity to indecency. Some organizations demanded a ban on it but the makers immediately released another poster which again showed the female lead posing with a bare back.
12. Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela (2013)
Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone starrer Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela’s poster also became one of the most controversial Bollywood movie posters of its time. Several Hindu groups were offended by the initial title of the film ‘Ramleela’ and ‘Ram-Leela’ as it was associated with Hindu Lord Ram. The film’s poster also received backlash and criticism for showing the lead pair sensually hugging each other. The makers later changed the title of the film as well as clarified that it was based on William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.
13. PK (2014)
Rajkumar Hirani’s blockbuster PK starring Aamir Khan stirred controversy as soon as its first poster released which showed Aamir Khan wearing nothing and covering his vitals with merely a radio in his hands. The movie later raked up another controversy after its release which reportedly was showing making fun of Lord Shiva in a scene.
14. Dirty Politics (2015)
Another film that found itself on the list of controversial movie posters was director K.C. Bokadia’s political satire, Dirty Politics. The movie landed into trouble because the film’s poster showed lead actress, Mallika Sherawat wrapped in the Indian National Flag which was regarded as a huge insult to the National Flag. The poster came in for a lot of flak with many political parties revolting against it which eventually had to be changed.
15. Hunterrr (2015)
The poster of Gulshan Devaiah starrer Hunterrr too found itself amid controversy which showed him posing with his three leading ladies, inside a banana. Though the poster was an eye-catching one but many called for a ban on it making the makers release a fresh poster.
16. Ittefaq (2017)
The poster of Akshaye Khanna starrer Ittefaq ran into controversy just before its release. The poster which had Akshaye Khanna smoking brought in a lot of criticism and trouble for its makers as well as the actor. The poster didn’t go down well with Delhi Health Department which released a strict compliance notice to its producers, Shah Rukh Khan, Gauri Khan, and Karan Johar for promoting smoking.
