Deepika Padukone

Padukone's departure from the film Spirit triggered a national debate over working hours for actresses who had become mothers. Reports attributed the split to a request for an eight-hour working day, while Sandeep Reddy Vanga posted a message accusing an unnamed person of "dirty PR" and leaking screenplay details.

State of the evidence

Allegations

Attribution

Directly implicated

The producers of the Kalki 2898 AD sequel announced that Padukone would not appear in the new film, stating that they had been unable to find the necessary "partnership" after a long journey together.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

A sequence in Besharam Rang featuring Padukone wearing, among other things, a saffron bikini was denounced by politicians and conservative groups as offensive to a colour sacred in Hinduism.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

The Narcotics Control Bureau summoned Padukone after WhatsApp messages linked to her manager emerged during a wider narcotics investigation involving the film industry.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Padukone visited Jawaharlal Nehru University and stood alongside students after a violent campus attack, without making a speech. Her presence was interpreted as a gesture of solidarity and triggered calls to boycott Chhapaak.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

In a promotional video, Padukone asked a TikTok creator to recreate several looks, including that of the acid attack survivor character in Chhapaak. Internet users and activists considered the approach insensitive.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Groups opposed to Padmaavat accused the film of distorting the history of Queen Padmavati, and some protest leaders made extremely violent threats against Padukone.

State of the evidence

Documented

Padukone was named in FIRs linked to the AIB Knockout roast, although she attended as an audience member. The controversy concerned the show's alleged obscenity.

State of the evidence

Documented

Padukone appeared in the Vogue Empower short film My Choice, defending women's bodily and personal autonomy. A statement about choosing to have sexual relations within or outside marriage triggered intense debate.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

A Times of India video and tweet highlighting Padukone's cleavage sparked a national controversy about voyeurism and the objectification of actresses. Padukone denounced the use of her body to generate clicks.

State of the evidence

Reported by the press

Attribution

Accused