Pathaan, Padmaavat, Raees: Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone films that were mired in controversy

The Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone starrer Pathaan was in the news today after members of the right-wing outfits Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal vandalised a mall threatening more damage if theatres screen the upcoming action flick on January 25. This is not the first time Shah Rukh or Deepika will be facing such hurdles ahead of a film release. From Pathaan to Padmaavat, Raees to Ram-Leela, here's a list of SRK films and Deepika starrers that courted controversy.

Members of the right-wing outfits Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal on Wednesday vandalised a mall in Vastrapur, Ahmedabad and tore up posters and other publicity material of the upcoming film 'Pathaan' starring Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone. Gujarat VHP spokesperson Hitendrasinh Rajput even went on record threatening damage to theatres in Gujarat that screen the film. This threat comes after a seer in Ayodhya threatened to 'burn Shah Rukh Khan alive'. The protests erupted over Deepika's orange-coloured bikini that groups claim, offended religious sentiments.

The protests against the Deepika Padukone starrer 'Padmavati' took a turn when fringe groups put a bounty on the actress' head and even offered rewards for anyone willing to take the life of director Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Protests erupted after multiple Rajput groups claimed that the film "distorts history" regarding Rajput queen Padmini, a charge that Bhansali repeatedly denied. Some even claimed that the film promoted the practice of Satti, which lead to the makers adding a disclaimer. After delaying the release, changing the title and even editing out scenes, the film finally hit theatres and walked away with a box office victory.

Shah Rukh Khan's movie 'Raees' courted controversy after the film's trailer showed the actor jumping over a procession carrying Alam Mubarak (flag of Islam) which the Shia Muslim community considered 'derogatory and disrespectful'. The community appealed to the makers to delete the scene, a request that the makers obliged. The film was also on the receiving end after the death of a man during a leg of promotions at a railway station. Shah Rukh Khan was booked for rioting and damaging railway property in Kota, but the charges did not hold up in court.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali's period drama 'Bajirao Mastani' starring Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone and Priyanka Chopra has landed into trouble with the Peshwa's descendants raising objections over the alleged 'wrong portrayal' of historical events. The descendant alleged that facts were "altered" by the director while portraying the late king and his wives Kashibai and Mastani in the film. The matter was taken to court and SLB came out victorious. The movie also went on to become one of the highest grossing films of all time.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 'Ram-Leela' faced waves of attacks from political groups. Not only was the team forced to change the posters of the Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone starrer, but also had to change the film's title to 'Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela' in order to release the film. Besides that, an FIR was also registered under Section 295-A against the director and the two actors for allegedly hurting the religious sentiments of the public believing in Hindu mythology. It was also alleged that the contents of the movie were 'highly objectionable'.

However, the court came to the aid of the film's team by allowing its release and scrapping the case against the movie while making it clear that the effect of the words, title and scenes 'will have to be adjudged from the standard of a reasonable man and not from the weak and vacillating mind'.

Shah Rukh Khan's 'My Name Is Khan' may have won critical acclaim, but the film also triggered controversy following the actor's remarks about how humiliating it was to see no Pakistani players in the IPL. After his statement went viral, Shiv Sena protestors demanded a ban on his film's release. However, the movie went on to become one of the actor's highest-grossing movies in India. It also raked in big bucks at the worldwide box office in 2010.