The dictionary prosaically describes newsmakers as people who make news, thus taking the fun and poetry away from people whose lives we love to devour as we sip our morning tea. We might not know the contents of our own bank accounts (we now do know thanks to demonetisation) but we sure like to discuss how many zeroes are there in the
33 million USD, which SRK supposedly earned. We might not be majorly into sports but Salman Khan’s and Sushant Singh Rajput’s antics in Sultan and MS Dhoni: The Untold Story respectively get our pulse soaring. Read about them and all other newsmakers in our year ender….
Shah Rukh Khan
Follow the money is the classic advice given in detective novels. Well, according to Forbes, SRK was ranked 86th in the list of highest paid world celebs and 8th in the actors’ list. He earned USD 33 million. That’s a whole lot of money. Just to put things in perspective, Brad Pitt is two places below him. His name is Khan and he has kind of terrorised Hollywood bigwigs with his clout. Maybe, the US authorities were pissed about that because they detained him at the LA Airport. Jokes aside, everyone wants to know how he was able to outmuscle the likes of Pitt, Will Smith and Leonardo DiCaprio.
On the acting front, he tried to push the envelope by making use of face-making technology to make a homicidal maniac version of him in Fan. The film might not have reached that elusive `100-crore mark at the box- office but it opened to a whopping `19.20 crore on the first day though, his 4th highest opening till date. And he did manage to exorcise the demon of demonetisation by garnering a `32.5 crore opening weekend for Dear Zindagi, providing an oasis of relief to a parched industry.
Alia Bhatt
Right now, Alia Bhatt’s the flavour of the season. Can’t remember the last time an actress generated this kind of frenzy among the audience. This year she blew our minds away with the role of a drug addict farm labourer win Udta Punjab. She endeared herself in Kapoor & Sons too. The icing on the cake was Dear Zindagi opposite Shah Rukh Khan. Is there ever a false note in her acting? After hours, rumour of her break up with Sidharth Malhotra filled the tabloid pages.
Priyanka Chopra
Look who came to the White House dinner – it was Priyanka Chopra of course! She was reportedly the first Indian celebrity to have been invited to a dinner hosted by the American President and the First Lady. So we reeled in the vicarious pleasure as she hobnobbed with appro Barack and Michele. She also entered the select list of Indians who presented the Oscars. She was on the TIME’s 100 most influential people’s list and also won the People’s Choice Award for her role as the kickass FBI recruit Alex Parrish in Quantico. Then, she landed a prime role in the film adaptation of the hit series Baywatch. Drool! Her production house Purple Pebble Pictures successfully released three regional films - Bam Bam Bol Raha Hai Kashi in Bhojpuri, Ventilator in Marathi and Sarvann in Punjabi. The desi girl hasn’t forgotten her roots. Pics of her celebrating Holi and Diwali in the US were all over the net.
Aamir Khan
Aamir Khan stayed in the news for Dangal. He piled on the kilos to play the real-life wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat, who trained his daughters to become wrestlers. In the first half of the year, he was dogged by the stir he created last year when he commented on the rising ‘intolerance’ in the country. He set up the Paani foundation with wife Kiran Rao, friend Satyajit Bhatkal and ex-wife Reena. It has helped 300 districts in Maharashtra to become drought free. Towards the end of the year, pictures of a fit Aamir were making the rounds. Is anything impossble for this man?
Preity Zinta
Preity Zinta’s low-profile wedding to Gene Goodenough, a US based official, surprised everyone because it was so sudden. She then threw a lavish reception in Mumbai for her friends in the industry. And watching her happy disposition, we must say marriage suits the pretty actor.
Sonam Kapoor
Sonam Kapoor won raves for her performance in Neerja. She also kept the fashion police busy with her glamorous appearances internationally as well as at home. Sister Rhea Kapoor’s directorial debut, Veere Di Wedding, where Sonam will play the lead, made news for also having Kareena Kapoor Khan. She’s signed up with Hollywood talent agency, UTA, which represents names like Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie. Personally, news of her dating Delhi-based businessman, Anand Ahuja, of the fashion label Bhane, has been the talk of the town.
Sonakshi Sinha
The talented Sonakshi Sinha surprised everyone by shedding the extra kilos. Her action sequences in films like Akira and Force 2 were the highlight of 2016. She showed she could kick some ass. The actress was in the news for matters of the heart too. Reportedly, she’s dating entrepreneur Bunty Sachdev and will probably tie the knot next year.
Akshay Kumar
Airlift, Housefull 3 and Rustom were all appreciated at the box-office, earning in excess of `100 crores, making Akshay Kumar the most successful actor in 2016. He donated `50 lakh to drought affected Maharashtra, which inspired many to come forward and contribute to the noble cause.
Deepika Padukone
The gorgeous Deepika Padukone bagged the Hollywood film, XXX: Return Of Xander Cage opposite Vin Diesel. Her fiery action sequences and her sexy avatar as Serena Unger won applause. Her selfies with Vin Diesel and Samuel L Jackson went viral. Back home she began shooting for Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmavati, in the titular role. Rumours of her doing a film with renowned director Majid Majidi also raised curiosity. She also won the Filmfare Best Actress Award for Piku early this year.Salman Khan
He was the Sultan of the box-office this year as his wrestling drama, Sultan put the box-office on the mat by earning `300 crore in India and `570 crore worldwide. No wonder then he made news as the highest taxpayer among celebs, overtaking Akshay Kumar and Amitabh Bachchan. He’s been called controversy’s favourite child for a reason and he courted flak when he said that he felt like a ‘rape victim’ while shooting the wrestling scenes in Sultan. He also defended the inclusion of Pakistani artistes in Indian films. His much talked out relationship with Romanian hottie Iulia Vantur sort of went into a nosedive as rumours of a rift emerged. Last heard, Bhai won’t be marrying the lovely lass, though nothing is certain as far as Bollywood relationships are concerned….
Bipasha Basu
Bipasha Basu and Karan Singh Grover, who were seen together in Alone, tied the knot on April 30, this year. Her wedding was attended by the likes of Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Dino Morea, the Bachchan family, Sanjay Dutt, Sonam Kapoor, Ranbir Kapoor and Preity Zinta. Also popular were the duo’s honeymoon pictures, which gave #couplegoals to many.
Asin
The actress, who ruled the South industry and made her Hindi debut with Aamir Khan’s Ghajini, tied the knot with owner of Micromax, Rahul Sharma, this year in January.
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan
When you are Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, the hysteria remains the same whether you are at home or on foreign soil. This time at the Cannes red carpet she broke the internet when she appeared in a violet lipstick. She followed up on her ‘comeback’ trail with Omung Kumar’s Sarbjit. Her bespectacled anguished avatar was appreciated. But what took the industry by storm was her glam role in Karan Johar’s Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. The hot scenes with Ranbir Kapoor had the mercury rising.
Amitabh Bachchan
He began the year by winning the Filmfare Best Actor Critics’ Award for Piku. He majorly stuck a blow for women empowerment this year, through his power-packed role in Pink. And asked questions like do we need to think of an adjective other than ‘mardaani’ for female valour on social media platforms. He completed 47 years in the film industry this year and the fact that he’s still going strong says a lot about his super stamina.
Sushant Singh Rajput
Sushant Singh grabbed all the attention by playing the celebrated cricketer, MS Dhoni in his biopic MS Dhoni : The Untold Story. He also entered the 100-crore club with this film. On the personal front, his break up with longtime girlfriend, Ankita Lokhande, invited media scrutiny. So did his new bond with Raabta co-star Kriti Sanon.
Hrithik Roshan
Our original superhero Hrithik Roshan jammed the internet with the announcement of Krrish 4 with father Rakesh Roshan. But much before that, Hrithik’s fallout with Kangana Ranaut was the biggest controversies of the year. Reportedly, Hrithik sent a legal notice to Kangana demanding an ‘unconditional apology’ for a ‘defaming’ remark in an interview where she allegedly referred to him as a ‘silly ex’. The ‘silly’ fight flared into a wild fire with Kangana alleging that the actor wrote her ‘amorous’ emails, something which he denied. The court dismissed the defamation case for lack of evidence. On the positive side, the trailer of Kaabil (director Sanjay Gupta) where Hrithk plays a visually-challenged character with Yami Gupta, has garnered great response.
Tusshar Kapoor
Tusshar Kapoor has become a precursor of sorts. The unmarried actor opted for IVF and became a single parent through surrogacy in June 2016. He named the baby boy Laksshya Kapoor. This is the first in India where a male actor turned into a single parent via surrogacy or assisted reproduction.
Ranveer Singh
Ranveer Singh won the Filmfare Award for Best Actor for Bajirao Mastani early this year. Apart from being on the wish list of many directors, he bagged Padmavati, Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s third film in a row with Deepika Padukone and him. He also made it to the big league of endorsements, having signed hefty commercial contracts this year. Also his series of kisses with co-star Vaani Kapoor in Aditya Chopra’s Befikre grabbed eyeballs.
Katrina Kaif
She remained in the news for personal reasons. Her break-up with Ranbir Kapoor had the tabloids in a tizzy. On the professional front too, things didn’t fare so well. Abhishek Kapoor’s Fitoor was a dud at the box office, her red hair not withstanding. Nitya Mehra’s Baar Baar Dekho met the same fate. On the plus side, she signed Yash Raj Films’ Tiger Zinda Hai opposite Salman Khan. That should ensure a hit.
Anil Kapoor
The Season 2 of his popular TV thriller, 24, won great reviews. The close-to-60 actor also shot the pilot episode of an Amazon Global Original series based on Michel Faber’s 2014 sci-fi bestseller, The Book Of Strange New Things. At home, son Harshvardhan Kapoor debuted with Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s Mirzya.
Kangana Ranaut
It was nothing less than a glorious year for Kangana as she picked up her third National Award for her role in Tanu Weds Manu Returns. She was also talked about for her titular role in Hansal Mehta’s Simran. She reportedly stayed in a hotel and learnt the nuances of a housekeeper’s job. She hit the headlines for her spat with Hrithik Roshan where she alleged he sent her emails professing love. Her statement, “I don’t know why exes do silly things to get your attention…” became the starting point of a trial by media.
Sunny Leone
Sunny Leone, who was at the receiving end of ‘misogynist’ questions about her ‘past’ in a TV interview, maintained a dignified stance through it all. One caustic question was, “Would Aamir Khan ever work with you?” To this Aamir posted a rejoinder on social media, “Yes, Sunny, I will be happy to work with you. I’ve absolutely no problems with your ‘past’.” Sure that was a ‘sunny’ moment for the ex porn star. She will also be seen in a song with SRK in Raees. Recently, Sunny made it to the BBC’s list of 100 most influential women.
Karan Johar
It was a casting triumph for Karan Johar with actors like Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Ranbir Kapoor, Fawad Khan and Anushka Sharma featuring in his directorial venture, Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (ADHM). The downside was when ADHM got into trouble for having Pakistani actor, Fawad Khan following the ban on Pakistani artistes after the Uri attack. The film faced opposition but things were sorted after he agreed to pay `5 crore to the Army Welfare fund as recommended by politician Raj Thackeray, under the mediation of Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis. His much-publicised movie joined the coveted 100-crore club. His popular talk show, Koffee With Karan made its foray into the fifth season with interesting pairings like Shah Rukh Khan and Alia Bhatt, Twinkle Khanna and Akshay Kumar and Ranveer Singh and Ranbir Singh as guests. Whatever Karan touches turns gold.
Ranbir Kapoor
His genius as an actor was never in doubt. The box-office however had ditched him. He redeemed himself this year with Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. On the personal front, things weren’t so smooth. There were speculations about his relationship with Katrina Kaif for far too long now. On New Years they broke up and put all rumours to rest finally. Ranbir reportedly walked out on her in January. There was talk of things being tense on the sets of Anurag Basu’s Jagga Jasoos given the break-up. But the professionals completed the shooting. Ranbir will next be seen in Raj Kumar’s biopic based on Sanjay Dutt’s life.
Kareena Kapoor Khan
Rumours mills were rife with news of Kareena’s pregnancy till she made it official that she was expecting indeed. Bebo’s appearances and ramp walks with the baby bump made it to the galleries. On the work front, she gathered hosannas for Ki & Ka and Udta Punjab. Her onscreen pairing with Diljit Dosanjh in the latter became the hot bed of compliments too. Last seen, she was busy endorsing baby products... even as the date drew closer.
Urmila Matodkar
The Rangeela girl, Urmila surprised everyone by tying the knot with Kashmir-based businessman and model Mohsin Akhtar Mir on March 3, 2016. Pictures of her hush-hush wedding in Manish Malhotra grandeur broke the internet.
Anushka Sharma
Anushka Sharma packed a punch in Sultan opposite Salman Khan. Her role as a wrestler was much appreciated. The film became one of the highest grossing Hindi films of all time. It was the second time a film featuring Anushka Sharma grossed in excess of `300 crore, the first being PK. Her role in Karan Johar’s Ae Dil Hai Mushkil as the sentimental but spunky Alizeh Khan was much loved. On the personal front, her break-up and later the much celebrated make-up with beau and Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli kept the grapevine busy.
Rajinikanth
The superstar of the nation was awarded the Padma Vibhushan this year. His film Kabali reportedly minted close to ` 500 crore worldwide. His film 2.0, a sequel to the 2010 blockbuster Enthiran, was announced. It also features Akshay Kumar in a negative role.
Jacqueline Fernandez
The Sri Lankan beauty had two hits – the comedy Housefull 3 and Dishoom. She was honoured with The Hotstepper Of The Year Award at the Absolut Elyx Filmfare Glamour & Style Awards. She judged the dance reality show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa (Season 9). She also bagged Judwaa 2 opposite Varun Dhawan.
Ajay Devgn
Ajay Devgn made a comeback as a director with Shivaay. The heavy-duty action in the film was a treat for audiences. Ajay also had his fill of controversy this year. Shivaay locked horns with Karan Johar’s Ae Dil Hai Mushkil for the premium Diwali release. A few days before D-day, producer and friend Kumar Mangat and Devgn alleged that critic Kamaal R Khan had received money to badmouth Shivaay. But all’s well that ends well. The film did decent business.
Riteish Deshmukh
He made it big on TV this year with the talk show Yaaron Ki Baraat along with Sajid Khan. He also hosted a Marathi quiz show, Vikta Ka Uttar. Moreover, wife Genelia D’Souza and he were blessed with a second son, whom they named Rahyl. Riaan is their first born.
Shahid Kapoor
Shahid Kapoor and wife Meera Rajput turned parents and named their baby girl Misha. While he’s enjoying playing dad off-screen, Shahid’s role as Ratan Singh, the Rajput king in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmavati, has his
fans excited. He was also under the spotlight for his role in Vishal Bharadwaj’s Rangoon.
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