Top 10 Bollywood Actresses On & Off-Screen Rivalries That Turned Sour
Posted On: 31 Jul 2023 | Last Updated : 31 Jul 2023 | Views : 1.6k
They say in Bollywood no one is a friend or an enemy. There’s a common phenomenon that says that no two Bollywood actresses can ever be friends on as well as off-screen. Due to the high amount of competition and insecurity actors and actresses face in the film industry often leads to rivalry between them. One also gets to hear of feuds brewing between leading Bollywood actresses which turned extremely sour that made spicy headlines for magazines as well as gossipmongers. Rivalry spats, fights, and feuds have always been an integral part of B-town especially Bollywood actress rivalries and conflicts in the recent past. If not through gossip magazines many actors and actresses have exchanged a war of words through cryptic social media posts. Let’s take some instances and try to revisit some of Bollywood’s top actresses’ rivalries who did films together but couldn’t hit it off on as well as off-screen for some known or unknown reasons:
1. Sharmila Tagore v/s Mumtaz
Sharmila Tagore was an A-list heroine since marking her Bollywood debut with Kashmir Ki Kali in 1964 opposite Shammi Kapoor whereas Mumtaz did quite a few action-stunt flicks before making it to the top bracket. Sharmila Tagore and Mumtaz shared screen space in films like Sawan Ki Ghata (1966), Yeh Raat Phir Na Aayegi (1966), and Mere Hamdam Mere Dost (1968) but their rivalry reportedly started when their respective on-screen pairing with the then-superstar Rajesh Khanna became successful. Their on-and off-screen rivalry can be rated among the 10 greatest rivalries of Bollywood that took place back in the late 60s and 70s. The two heroines tried to ensure that their on-screen chemistry with Rajesh Khanna was better than the others. The pair of Rajesh Khanna and Sharmila Tagore delivered hits including Aradhana, Amar Prem, Safar, Chhoti Bahu, Maalik, Raja Rani, Daag, Aavishkar, etc., while the Rajesh Khanna and Mumtaz pair gave hits like Bandhan, Do Raaste, Sachaa Jhutha, Dushman, Apna Desh, Aap Ki Kasam, Roti, Prem Kahani, etc.
2. Jaya Bachchan v/s Rekha
The feud between Jaya Bachchan and Rekha could easily be among one of the top 10 Bollywood actresses’ rivalries ever. The point of contention between these two actresses was none other than Amitabh Bachchan who was married to Jaya Bachchan and reportedly was in a relationship with co-star Rekha. Though the three did share screen space in Yash Chopra’s Silsila (1981) but the tiff between Jaya and Rekha made huge headlines as the former tried to save her marriage and stop Amitabh from signing movies with her in the future. Jaya did manage to get the better of Rekha then but the latter in many interviews admitted that she was hurt and may never be able to forget him ever.
3. Shabana Azmi v/s Smita Patil
Smita Patil and Shabana Azmi were known for playing female leads in the new wave cinema that was often called the art or parallel cinema. Despite being regulars in director Shyam Benegal’s films, both shared screen space in films like Nishant, Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyoon Aata Hai, Arth, Mandi and Oonch Neech Beech, and eventually became the faces of the parallel cinema in the mid-70s and early 80s. There were constant reports of comparison between the two which led to one of the most dubious actress rivalries in Bollywood. Smita Patil got top billing over Shabana Azmi leading to unpleasant bickering between them until the former passed away in 1986. Shabana Azmi later did confess to being rivals with the late actress and regrets making uncharitable comments during the peak of their respective careers.
4. Sridevi v/s Jaya Prada
One of the most well-known iconic rivalries among Bollywood actresses was that of South Indian sirens Sridevi and Jaya Prada. Believed to be contemporaries and rivals in south cinema, the two stormed their way into the Hindi filmdom in the 80s. Despite working with the top lead actors of their times they featured together in movies such as Mawaali, Tohfa, Maqsad, Naya Kadam, Aakhree Raasta, Majaal, Aulad, Main Tera Dushman, etc., but reportedly never spoke to each other. A close look at their on-screen performances witnessed a discomfort they shared in real life too. It was reported that to break the ice between the two, co-star Jeetendra locked them up in a room for hours that did not work. Both the actresses who were superstars in their own right often accused the other of stealing plum projects.
5. Raveena Tandon v/s Karisma Kapoor
Despite working together in biggies like Aatish, Andaz Apna Apna and Rakshak in the 90s, Raveena Tandon and Karisma Kapoor were always at loggerheads in real life. The alleged feud between the two led to one of the many famous Bollywood celebs rivalries that often grabbed headlines. The reported 'catfight' that took place at a party in the 90s when Karisma refused to pose with Raveena was one such instance. Raveena Tandon later alleged that she was removed from films because of Karisma Kapoor’s insecurity and due to her closeness with actor Ajay Devgn in the 90s. The discomfort between the two was evident in the scenes of Aatish as well as Andaz Apna Apna.
6. Rani Mukerji v/s Preity Zinta
Another iconic rivalry among Bollywood actresses was that of Rani Mukerji and Preity Zinta who reportedly shared some fierce ‘Tu-Tu Main-Main’ during their hey-days. Though the two actresses shared the screen space multiple times in films such as Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega, Chori Chori Chupke Chupke, Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna, Veer-Zaara, etc., they were not the best of friends in real-life and often shared cold vibes towards each other which constantly got them under the radar. It is believed that their rivalry was at its peak during the shoot of Karan Johar’s Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna where they were pitted against each other.
7. Kareena Kapoor v/s Bipasha Basu
The rivalry between Kareena Kapoor and Bipasha Basu was made public when in a famous chat show, Kareena termed Bipasha’s ex-beau, John Abraham as ‘expressionless’, and called her a ‘Kaali Billi’, in turn, Bipasha said that Kareena was an actress with too many expressions and would never want to work with her again. Despite appearing in Ajnabee and Omkara both of them were never hesitant to hide their dislikes for each other from the media.
8. Esha Deol v/s Amrita Rao
The spat between actresses Esha Deol and Amrita Rao on the sets of Indra Kumar’s Pyare Mohan in 2006 made instant headlines. As per reports, Amrita Rao had said something nasty about Esha and her family which led to the latter losing her cool and slapping the former in a fit of rage. A few years later Esha confessed to slapping Amrita which led to a lot of discomforts in some scenes of the film. She later added that she had no regrets because she (Amrita) totally deserved it at that point in time.
9. Kareena Kapoor v/s Priyanka Chopra
Talking about the top 10 Bollywood actresses’ rivalries and not including Priyanka Chopra and Kareena Kapoor on the list wouldn’t be fair. The Priyanka Chopra - Kareena Kapoor rivalry reportedly started during the shooting of Abbas – Mustan’s film Aitraaz in 2004 when Kareena was unhappy with the limelight being on Priyanka. The animosity between the two continued for years by making snarky comments but became worse when Priyanka started to date Shahid Kapoor, Kareena’s ex-boyfriend. Besides Aitraaz the two also did Don, Billu, and 36 China Town but never shared any scenes together. However, seems like the two actresses have buried the past and moved on since then.
10. Deepika Padukone v/s Priyanka Chopra
The Priyanka Chopra – Deepika Padukone rivalry was spoken about ever since Deepika made her Bollywood debut in Om Shanti Om in 2007. The audience wanted to watch the two divas in one frame on screen which they got to see in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Bajirao Mastani. Though the two also featured together in Billu and Goliyon Ki Raasleela, they were pitted against each other, not only in the film but their respective Hollywood and Bollywood projects. Many believed that Deepika snatched away xXx opposite Vin Diesel from Priyanka Chopra.
