In this Year Ender 2025 article, we look back at a year when films did much more than entertain. They stirred emotions, sparked heated debates and pushed Indian cinema straight into political and cultural conversations.
The year was filled with big-budget releases, surprise bans, legal battles, fan outrage and nonstop online chatter. From historical dramas to commercial entertainers, controversies dominated the positive hype surrounding the releases.
Year Ender 2025: Movie Releases That Sparked Loudest Debates
1. Emergency
Kangana Ranaut’s Emergency was one of the year’s most polarising films. She wrote, directed and starred in this political drama based on the Emergency period under Indira Gandhi. The film was released on January 17, but immediately faced backlash.
Several Sikh groups said the film misrepresented their community and twisted historical facts. Protests grew louder, leading to certification delays from the CBFC. The controversy didn’t stop there, and Emergency was later banned in Bangladesh due to political tensions. Even after its release, debates around its narrative continued online for months.
2. Bad Girl
Tamil film Bad Girl entered controversy right from its teaser. Critics accused it of insulting Brahmins and promoting underage drinking. The Madras High Court even ordered the teaser to be removed from social media. The makers denied targeting any community, but the debate raised questions about the limits of creative expression.
3. Housefull 5
The popular franchise returned, but not without drama. Before the release, its teaser was abruptly taken down from YouTube due to a copyright dispute over a song. The team later showed proof of rights, yet the controversy sparked a conversation about growing copyright issues in Bollywood promotions.
4. The Taj Story
Released in October 2025, The Taj Story faced criticism from historians who said the film misrepresented the Taj Mahal’s past. The debate highlighted ongoing tensions between creative freedom and factual accuracy, especially in films dealing with cultural heritage.
5. Dhurandhar
Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar made headlines for two major controversies.
Portrayal of a Pakistani officer: Noreen Aslam, widow of Karachi police officer Chaudhary Aslam Khan, accused the film of misrepresenting her husband and warned of legal action.
Ashoka Chakra awardee dispute: Another case was filed by the family of Major Mohit Sharma, alleging the film used details from his life without permission. The Delhi High Court asked CBFC to review the issue. The board later clarified there was “no link” and cleared the film with an A certificate and cuts.
6. Sardaar Ji 3
Diljit Dosanjh’s Sardaar Ji 3 wasn’t released in India due to diplomatic tensions linked to the casting of Pakistani actress Hania Aamir. The ban reignited conversations about cross-border arts, cultural bans and political influence on cinema.
Other Major Film Controversies Of 2025
Phule
The Brahmin community protested against Phule, accusing it of stereotyping. CBFC later cleared it with several cuts.
Chhaava
Vicky Kaushal’s Chhaava was a hit but faced backlash from Maratha groups for portraying certain historical figures as traitors. Some scenes were also criticised for being historically inaccurate.
Jaat
Sunny Deol’s Jaat faced an FIR from the Christian community for a scene they found offensive. The makers removed the scene from the theatrical release.
Thug Life
Kamal Haasan’s remarks about linguistic roots caused outrage in Karnataka, leading to a state ban and financial losses for the film.
The Bengal Files
Accused of distorting history and inciting communal tension, The Bengal Files created major debates but failed at the box office.
As we wrap up this year ender 2025 story, let us remind you that 2025 proved that films can spark emotions far beyond cinema halls.
