Representative image / Pexels

From the time an idea is developed into a script to the mahurat shot, the editing, and eventual box-office release every film is a culmination of years of hard work, intense planning, and frantically hoping for the best. But in an industry where at least a thousand films are released every year, finding a Friday that guarantees footfalls at the theatres or at least gives the film a fighting chance at making money, is like finding a needle in a haystack. 

However, this is if the film makes it to the theatres. In a country as diverse as India, the drama unfolds off-screen much before the lights dim and the curtain rises. No, we are not talking about a mindblowing trailer or chartbuster songs that get the film noticed. Bollywood films often stir up a controversy much before they even make it to the 70mm screen, which also has a direct impact on its box-office outcome.

With the release of Fawad Khan's next Bollywood venture-Abir Gulaal in a limbo following the terror attacks in Pahalgam, yet another film is facing the brunt of pre-release controversies. The film was slated for a release on May 9 but has now been banned indefinitely since it featured a Pakistani actor. So much so that the Instagram posts that were co-created with him and Vaani Kapoor, his co-star in the film, have also been taken down by the social media platform. With the fate of the film now jeopardized, it remains to be seen how the filmmakers will manage to help the film see the light of the day. 

However, Abir Gulaal is not the first film to fall prey to circumstances surrounding its release. Let's take a look at some other big-ticket releases that courted controversy pre-release-and lived to tell the tale.

Padmaavat

Originally titled Padmavati, this Sanjay Leela Bhansali magnum opus faced the wrath of Rajput groups, most notably the Karni Sena, who alleged that the film distorted historical facts and dishonored Queen Padmavati. What followed were protests, vandalism on sets, death threats, and bans in several Indian states. Despite no romantic interaction between Alauddin Khilji and the queen-which was the crux of the protests-the film had to be renamed to Padmaavat. However, in this case, the pre-release controversy turned out in favour of the film. Having become a raging topic of debate and snagging several hours of primetime coverage, it generated quite a buzz and ran to packed theatres. While the filmmakers had to face the heat during the making and before the film's release, they had the last laugh here.

Udta Punjab

89 cuts! That's what the doctor...err, Censor Board ordered for Udta Punjab, which was a gritty take on Punjab's drug crisis. The then CBFC chief Pahlaj Nihalani even questioned the film's "intention", The controversy turned political, with accusations flying at the ruling government in the state for trying to bury an uncomfortable truth. After a raging court battle and dominating headlines for days, the filmmakers managed to keep the film intact for the most part-bargaining to bring the cuts down to just one. And the outcome? The film not only went on to mint money at the box-office, it also garnered critical acclaim for its treatment of the sensitive subject.

PK

Any film that takes on religion in such a stark manner must prep itself to tackle controversies. Aamir Khan's PK questioned blind faith and took a sharp jab at godmen and organized religion-a fact that doesn't go down well with similar groups. The film's subject was more than enough to trigger protests. lawsuits, and vandalism of theaters by religious fringe groups. However, the Rajkumar Hirani film had blockbuster written all over it and the pre-release controversies only helped its prospects further at the ticket windows. Even the ones who would have otherwise ignored the film, flocked to the theatres to ensure that no objectionable content was getting screened, resulting in happy filmmakers laughing all the way to the bank.

Jodhaa Akbar

Ashutosh Gowariker's historical romance between Mughal emperor Akbar and Rajput princess Jodhaa faced heat for alleged historical Inaccuracies. Rajput groups claimed Jodhaa was never married to Akbar, and saw the film as an affront to their heritage. Despite its opulence, and the chemistry of the lead stars-Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, the film was banned in Rajasthan for a while. However, it was released across India soon and was praised for both its grandeur as well as the sensitive treatment of the topic.
My Name Is Khan
When the topic of a film is not controversial, the stars that headline it can also throw a spanner in the wheels of its outcome. Before the release of his film, My Name is Khan, Shah Rukh Khan had commented on the exclusion of Pakistani players from the IPL much to the ire of the Shiv Sena, which took offense. The political party that has a strong hold in Maharashtra-especially Mumbai-threatened to disrupt screenings, leading to heightened tensions in the state. However, the government stepped in with tight security, and the film opened to packed theaters. The film's message of tolerance resonated with its pre-release circumstances.

Brahmastra

Having released amidst the Boycott Bollywood wave, Brahmastra had to field several controversies. During the promotions of the film, a video resurfaced where Ranbir Kapoor, who plays the leading role of Shiva in the film-mentioned that he used to eat beef in the past. This triggered outrage and boycott calls. Matters escalated when protestors stopped the crew from entering Ujjain's Mahakal temple over the actor's remarks. However, the fantasy film that also starred Alia Bhatt and Amitabh Bachchan, fared fantastically on the box-office. Despite mixed reviews, Brahmastra lit up the box office during the Diwali weekend, when it was released.
The Kashmir Files
Vivek Agnihotri's harrowing depiction of the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits was met with polarizing responses. While many praised the film for spotlighting a painful part of Indian history, critics accused it of stoking communal tensions. Massive political support helped the film rake in over 250 crore and sparked a national conversation few could ignore.

Adipurush

This big-budget reinterpretation of the Ramayana-one of India's costliest films was under the scanner much before its release. It was slammed for cringeworthy dialogues, lackluster VFX, and disrespectful portrayals of revered figures. Lines like "jalegi tere baap ki sparked widespread disgust and memes galore. While the filmmakers were quick to rectify the issue and dialogues were rewritten post-release, the damage was done. The film became a textbook case of how not to adapt sacred texts. It was a major box-office failure.