Shilpa Shetty’s husband Raj Kundra getting embroiled in a porn controversy to SRK’s son Aryan arrest in drugs-on-cruise case, here’s a look at celebs who faced the heat this year

Mona

From royal drama across seas to drugs, tax and porn controversies, many celebs were caught on the wrong foot in 2021. Here’s a sneak peek.

Aryan Khan’s arrest in drugs-on-cruise case on October 3 by NCB catapulted him from a cushioned star son to a sensation overnight! Right from putting Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri on a social media trial, to unfair comparisons to R Madhavan’s Olympic-aspirant son Vedaant Madhavan, it was a whole circus. Aryan remained in the eye of the storm till SRK’s long-time friend Juhi Chawla signed the bail bond for his release and he walked out of Arthur Road jail on October 30.

Shilpa Shetty’s husband entrepreneur Raj Kundra made it to headlines, as he was arrested by the Mumbai Crime Branch for the production and distribution of pornographic content in July. While many models and actresses alleged to have been ‘lured’ into pornography by Kundra while promising a role in web series, Kundra walked out of a Mumbai jail on September 21, putting to rest the rumours of his divorce with Shilpa Shetty.

Though short but a substantial role in The Matrix Resurrections had Priyanka Chopra hit the headlines, her show, The Activist, brought criticism her way. “You were heard. The show got it wrong and I am sorry that my participation has disappointed many of you,” she shared in a written statement.

Kangana Ranaut retained her spot as the queen! She received the Padma Shri in November, but she also battled numerous controversies through 2021. If in May Twitter suspended her account after her posts on Bengal poll violence, Kangana moved to Instagram stirring a storm after India got ‘real freedom in 2014’remark.

Rakul Preet Singh and Rana Daggubati were summoned in a drug case by Enforcement Directorate in September, while Jacqueline Fernandez and Nora Fatehi came under scanner for alleged links with conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar. ED also summoned actor Yami Gautam in connection with an alleged violation of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), while Aishwarya Rai was also questioned by the ED in the ‘Panama Papers’ case.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry appeared on the Oprah Winfrey show, and talked about a range of issues, right from being denied mental help to racism and more. The runaway royals kept their June-born Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor away from public eye till this Christmas.

On the sets of Rust, Hollywood actor Alec Baldwin allegedly misfired a prop gun that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injured director Joel Souza on October 21. Baldwin was also producer of the film, which is now suspended.

Rapper and record producer Travis Scott earned ill-fame as eight people died and many were injured at Astroworld Festival. He was taken to task for continuing the show despite the mishap.

Comedian Munawar Faruqui was arrested and his shows cancelled back-to-back after an alleged clip of his stand-up act went viral. The Indore-based comedian had decided to quit the stand-up comic, but since then he is back to shows.

The advertising world made much noise too—right from FabIndia receiving backlash for naming their new collection around Diwali Jashn-e-Riwaaz to Dabur, who had to withdraw an advertisement with same-sex couple celebrating Karwa Chauth! Tanishq’s inter-faith advertisement on love jihad radar also made ripples.

Couturier Sabyasachi ran into trouble more than once—legal notice for his mangalsutra jewellery collection to his pricey H&M collection outrage, he was at the receiving end of netizens.