Team FC
Arguably one of the biggest controversies to hit the film industry in the last decade, Sanjay Leela Bhansali's magnum opus was embroiled in controversy since it began shooting.
Alankrita Srivastava's project saw many trials and tribulations due to its bold theme of female sexual awakening. The film's first hurdle came from the Central Board for Film Certification (CBFC) – no surprises there – which put a stay on the release of the movie, claiming that the film was too "lady-oriented".
Based on the iconic South Indian actress Silk Smita, The Dirty Picture starred Vidya Balan in the lead role. At a time when the body positivity movement didn't have the credibility it does today,
Sanjay Leela Bhansali is clearly – and unfortunately – a troll-favourite. The director's grandiose love saga Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela, starring Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh, was the subject of ire from multiple religious groups and communities.
PK takes up an essential spot on this list not only because it faced tremendous criticism online and offline only to become a raging hit, but also because it still remains a bone of contention for Hindu extremists.
Vishal Bharadwaj's Haider witnessed extremely polarising opinions for its representation of the Indian Army and the separatist movement. The story, a loose adaptation of Shakespeare's Hamlet, unfolds against the backdrop of insurgency in Kashmir during the 1990s.