The 1980s, despite being regarded as a golden period of cine masterpieces and some superstars achieved unprecedented stardom, remains rife with controversies that went to become the part of Bollywood history. Here’s looking back at some of the most scandalous, headline-grabbing controversies that rocked not just Bollywood but the nation as a whole in the 80s.
1October 1982: Amitabh Bachchan’s Coolie Set Accident
Among the very highlights, of this decade there was none more major or shocking than Amitabh Bachchan’s Coolie near death incident. He was injured during the filming of an intense action scene when a punch thrown by co-actor Puneet Issar hit him in the abdomen. Fans everywhere were literally glued to updates regarding his health with comments held for prayers and rituals across the nation. Fortunately, the megastar survived after going through several surgeries leading to this incident now remaining a national affair – and his legacy still enduring.
2Rekha’s Mangalsutra Incident
Though Rekha was one of the hottest actresses in the 80s but her personal life always took a flight ahead of professional one. Perhaps her most controversial incident was when she showed up at a wedding wearing a mangalsutra and sindoor (symbols of married women), raising eyebrows around the world around her supposed hush-hush marriage to Amitabh Bachchan. Which sparked gossip columns everywhere, leaving followers and the media alike speculating about whether they were romantically involved.
3Rumored affair of Mithun Chakraborty and Sridevi
This decade saw a spate of rumored affairs involving big stars, among them one of the most discussed was the alleged relationship between Mithun Chakraborty and Sridevi. He was said to have entered the matrimonial bond in secret, back then Girlfriends on a more serious note Mithun is married with actress Yogeeta Bali. The controversy nearly ruined Mithun’s marriage and caused a lot of buzz in the film world as well as amongst fans.
4Censorship Issues: Ram Teri Ganga Maili (1985) – Raj Kapoor
Ram Teri Ganga Maili, Raj Kapoor’s final film on this list was controversial because it touched the very fiber of Indian cinema in its time. It was a film that had several bold scenes, mainly with actress Mandakini that were termed scandalous in the time it released. Censorship In 2016, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) came under intense scrutiny as people wanted the film to be censored citing that it questioned long-standing traditional conventions of society.
5Battles of the 80s : Smita Patil Vs Amitabh Bachchan Fans
Famed for playing intense, socially relevant roles, Smita Patil fell then on a little criticism when she reacted to Amitabh Bachchan. This led to a backlash from his legion of fans after she claimed the “angry young man” persona he adopted in so many films was damaging to society. This incident opened a window to power imbalance of Bollywood and the influence of fan cultures.
6Vinod Khanna’s Spiritual Turn
There was a time when he was on top of his game and became one of the very few who dropped everything to follow spiritual guru Osho Rajneesh, shocking fans and fellow actors alike with the decision. This triggered a lot of speculation regarding the reasons for his exit, many came to believe that he was strongly impacted by the preachings of this guru. Filmmakers who had signed him for projects lost a lot of money when he pulled out at the last minute.
7Mandakini’s Underworld Don Dawood Ibrahim Connection
Ram Teri Ganga Maili actress Mandakini rose to fame quickly but soon found herself in controversy after being linked with underworld don Dawood Ibrahim. Paparazzi images of her alongside Dawood at a game of cricket started to leak, and subsequently media outlets began speculating about the nature of their relationship, something she denied. This controversy then went on to become one of the biggest mysteries of Bollywood in the 80s, which still remains unsolved.
8The controversy surrounding Dev Anand’s Guide (Censorship)
Although The Guide was published in 1965, it continued to create controversies through the 80s — with its frank portrayals of extramarital affairs and themes involving spirituality. The censor board that snipped at this thought-provoking film didn’t make a note on the trail of ban. Even decades after the movie’s release, Dev Anand continued protesting against the skewed approach of moral policing which kept sparking debates over censorship well into the 80s.
9Dimple Kapadia’s Return to Screens in Saagar (1985)
Dimple Kapadia made a splashy comeback in Saagar after a brief hiatus post her marriage. The film included an extremely controversial naked-stuffed scene, which resulted in a wide-ranging conversation concerning picturing a setting of women within the Indian Film atvinnu. The moment was supposed to be artistic in nature, but it received heavy backlash from the right.
10Bollywood Celebs In Smuggling Scandal
Some of the scandals, notably that involving Bollywood stars in smuggling as well during the 80s. VIP names are said to have appeared in gold and other silver smuggling cases. However, the image of Bollywood was damaged due to a number of people being charged for involvement in criminal activity and the dark side of the industry became questionable.
