Bollywood stars of yesteryears complain how Bollywood has become a competitive place and where there are no real friends. With films becoming larger, competition becoming fierce, and stakes getting higher in Bollywood, its easy for celebrities to turn from friends into enemies (mostly because of ego issues).
Here we take a look at the top Bollywood Frenemies, friends who became sworn enemies and then became friends again. Obviously, some of them have still to patch up, but some others have taken the more practical route and have maintained the friendship (leaving aside their egos) for the professional benefits involved.
Shahrukh Khan & Salman Khan
This fight, involving the biggest of the stars – SRK and Salman, started at Katrina Kaif’s birthday party in 2008. It seems, Salman was unhappy with SRK as he refused to do a cameo in brother Sohail Khan’s film ‘Main Aur Mrs.Khanna’ (on the other hand Salman has done several cameos for SRK’s films).
What started as a small banter escalated into a full-fledged fight. Salman irritated SRK by saying that his TV show ‘Dus Ka Dum’ was a huge success while nobody watched SRK’s ‘Kya Aap Paanchvi Paas Se Tez Hain? SRK retorted with a mean joke about Salman’s ex-flame, Aishwarya Rai. After several years, the two seems to have taken a softer stand with each other, although they don’t look very comfortable in the presence of each other.
But, because they both are among the biggest stars, and with some big films & serious money riding on them, they have taken a more pragmatic view of the situation. After being enemies for almost 7 long years, they seem to have turned wise, and that can be attributed to their acute business sense. The 2 stars can now be seen promoting each other’s movies, praising each other’s performances, and even shuffling the release dates of their movies to avoid clashes at the box office, sounds like they were never foes.
Current status: They are on friendly terms with each other now.
Akshay Kumar and Farah Khan
One time friends, the debacle of Farah Khan-directed Tees Maar Khan (starring Akshay Kumar) made their relationship go sour. It went from bad to worse when Akshay refused to promote Farah’s husband Shirish Kunder’s Joker, which was another big flop. Both Akshay and Sonakshi Sinha refused to promote Joker and Farah was obviously not amused with it.
Current status: Both sides are polite (though not friendly).
Saif Ali Khan and Sajid Khan
One time weekly ‘drinking’ buddies, the debacle of Humshakals made Saif blamed Sajid for the failure. Post that, Sajid went into hibernation. However, a couple of months later, Saif had a change of heart; he went to Sajid’s home and the two hugged each other putting behind their fight.
Current status: They are buddies again
Anil Kapoor and Anupam Kher
One time close friends, they had a fallout when Anupam was making Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara and Anil was making Gandhi, My Father – two films based on a similar subject. They didn’t speak to each other for years, putting their common friends in dilemma who could not invite them together for family get-togethers or parties.
Current status: They are close friends again
Priyanka Chopra and Shah Rukh Khan
Not many are aware of this, but SRK and Priyanka Chopra got closer to each other in real life, after working together in the film Don in 2006. Obviously, their closeness could not escape SRK’s wife Gauri’s attention, who started keeping a close check on SRK’s friendship with Priyanka Chopra.
SRK recommending PC to producers for substantial roles, PC’s frequent visits to Mannat and her fallout with Gauri’s best friend, filmmaker Karan Johar, raised a few eyebrows in Bollywood and the rumours of their affair only got stronger by the day.
Gauri never felt insecure about SRK’s link-ups in his decades-long career, but this one ignited a small fire in the Khan household.
That is when SRK and Priyanka decided to maintain distance from each other for some time (to allow things to settle down), and were not seen together in leading roles for the next 5 years.
However, with the sequel of Don, SRk and Priyanka got back together once more, and Don 2 became a massive hit.
Current status: Keeping safe distance in the open
Deepika Padukone and Ranbir Kapoor
The two were in love, well, at least Deepika was. No wonder she couldn’t accept the fact that Ranbir was cheating on her. On the chat show Koffee With Karan, Deepika said that she would like to gift a packet of condoms to Ranbir Kapoor, and even advised his current-flame Katrina not to marry him.
However, things seem to be different now, and Deepika seems to have softened a bit towards Ranbir (perhaps because Ranbir apologised?). Another reason, is that the audience loved them in ‘Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani’ and filmmakers are dying to patch them together once more. Perhaps, even the two realized that and will be seen in the film ‘Tamasha’ next, to be directed by the same director Ayan Mukerji.
Now isn’t that friendship with benefits?
Current status: Patched up and ready to work professionally
Emraan Hashmi & Mallika Sherawat
‘Murder’ (2004) starring Emraan and Mallika Sherawat was a big hit. But it was Mallika who went shouting around saying that the movie was a hit because of her. Emraan was hurt, and allegedly took a dig at Mallika by saying she wasn’t a good kisser. I guess both don’t remember that the movie was also a big hit because of its songs (composed by Anu Malik, but then he was accused of lifting the songs).
Later, Mallika reportedly said that she would prefer kissing a (remember her movie ‘Hiss’) over Emraan. Emraan responded by saying that she should do a sequel to the movie with the snake.
Current status: Still not friends.
Salman Khan & Sanjay Leela Bhansali
When Salman Khan’s gifted a DVD of Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Prestige’, reportedly Sanjay got inspired to write the story of ‘Guzaarish’ (2010). But when Sanjay chose to cast Hrithik as the lead in the movie, Salman apparently lost it (now that’s not fair to the director). After the release of the film, Sallu publicly stated that ‘Guzaarish’ was not even watched by dogs. Years later, Sallu Bhai is yet to cool down.
Current status: Silent treatment continues.
Kareena Kapoor & Priyanka Chopra
Remember the movie ‘Aitraaz’ (2004) where Bebo and Priyanka were seen together, along with Akshay Kumar? Post the success of the movie, PC walked away with all the credit for her negative role in the movie (and she did receive lots of praises for her role). Obviously that didn’t go down well with Kareena. Thus began the long-standing drama with the girls swapping insults. Years later, during the Mumbai Police Mela in 2010, Priyanka gestured for Kareena to come over and join her on stage along with Saif Ali Khan and SRK. They hugged and even danced together!
Current status: All patched up.
Sanjay Dutt & Sanjay Gupta
The two have worked together in some great films that were big hits at the box office (its another thing that the movies were rip-offs). But things went bad after Sanjay allegedly found out that employees of their production house, White Feather Films, were not getting paid regularly. He apparently held Gupta responsible for it and told him to find a replacement for his film ‘Alibaugh’ (The film was never completed though). Gupta apparently reacted by saying that he would never work with Dutt again. Sanjay was later rumored to have used his star power to make sure that certain A-listers weren’t a part of Gupta’s recent hit film ‘Shootout at Wadala’ (2013).
Stage two: It was Sanjay Dutt who decided to put an end to their fight and they apparently buried the hatchet at Big B’s birthday party in 2012. Gupta even stalled the launch of the song ‘Laila’ from ‘SAW’ because he was disturbed over Dutt’s jail sentence.
Current status: All patched up.
Shahrukh Khan & Farah Khan
How it started: SRK and Farah’s friendship went for a toss after Farah decided to cast Akshay Kumar (instead of King Khan) as the leadin ‘Tees Maar Khan’ (2010). So when Farah wanted to work with SRK again in ‘Happy New Year’ (2010), Shahrukh seemingly decided to string Farah along by complaining about the film’s script so that he could complete ‘Ra.One’ (2011) and ‘Don 2’ (2011) without any delays.
Stage two: SRK’s famous public apology (that didn’t work on Salman) apparently won Farah’s heart!
Current status: Friends again!
Shahrukh Khan & Shirish Khunder
How it started: A tweet by Shirish after the release of ‘Ra.One’ (2011) – “I just heard a 150 crore firework fizzle” was the starting point of the spat. The problem that kept building on from then exploded at Sanjay Dutt’s party, when a drunken Shirish (who was apparently offending SRK), ended up getting punched and slapped by him.
Stage two: SRK and Shirish reportedly patched up over lunch with help from peacemakers Sajid Khan and Sajid Nadidwala. Shirish is said to have claimed that the brawl has strengthened their bond.
Current status: Friends again!
Ranbir Kapoor & Sonam Kapoor
How it started: Ranbir bluntly voted Sonam ‘the least sexy actress’ and a ‘drama queen’ on ‘Koffee with Karan’. Sonam who had supposedly not forgiven Ranbir for dumping her was infuriated even further!
Stage two: Sonam ganged up on Ranbir with Deepika Padukone (also an ex-girlfriend of Rk Junior’s) on Karan’s show just weeks after Ranbir’s appearance and lte loose such stingers as “He’s a good friend, but not a great boyfriend” and “I’d give Deepika a lot of credit for hanging onto him”.
Current status: Still not friends.
Aishwarya Rai & Shahrukh Khan
How it started: During the filming of ‘Chalte Chalte’ (2003), SRK was apparently not pleased with Salman Khan’s frequent visits on the sets to meet his then-girlfriend, Aishwarya Rai. It was alleged that Sallu bhai even raised his hand on Ash creating chaos on the sets. SRK stepped in and decided to put a stop to it. His solution? He replaced Ash with Rani Mukerji!
Stage two: At KJo’s birthday party in 2009, SRK was said to have apologised, with Ash gracefully accepting. To everybody’s surprise, after the party, Ash-Abhi and SRK-Gauri headed to Mannat and partied away till wee hours!
Current status: All patched up.
Abhishek Bachchan & Kareena Kapoor
How it started: The Bachchan and Kapoor families broke off all ties when Karishma and Abhishek’s engagement was called off in 2002. Abhi reportedly even refused to work with Bebo! The strain remained even after Abhishek married Aishwarya Rai.
Stage two: Thanks to Ash and KJo’s subtle efforts, the cold war between two of the biggest families in Bollywood reportedly came to an end at KJo’s birthday party in 2009. Abhi apparently danced with Bebo and even said hello to Karishma.
Current status: All patched up.
