Bollywood's underbelly: Public brawls

Best known for his scandalous MMS with actress Riya Sen and more recently a stint on reality show Bigg Boss and another fling-gone-kaput with Pakistani actress Veena Malik, actor Ashmit Patel is now in the news for reportedly instigating and participating in a fist fight.

The man at the receiving end of Ashmit Patel's boorish behavior is Vicky, make-up man and best buddy of another actor, Imran Khan. The brawl took place at a Mumbai pub in the wee hours of Saturday (July 23) and onlookers claim it was instigated by Ashmit Patel.

This incident is not the first in Bollywood's history of smashed actors turning loutish in public. More incidents on the following slides, based on previously reported incidents, now out in the public domain.

Actor Aditya Pancholi was on a Jet Airways flight en-route to Goa on July 26, 2011, when he had an argument with the crew on board.

According to reports, the Yes Boss actor wasn't feeling well and asked to be deplaned. The aircraft then had to land so that he may be treated.

Though no formal complaint has been registered yet, the aircraft made its way back to Mumbai at 11:30 pm.

Salman Khan has had his share of pub brawls too. He reportedly got into a nasty fistfight in October 2004 with lensmen who were trying to click him with Katrina Kaif at a Mumbai disc.

A 'high' Salman Khan was partying with his then girlfriend Katrina on her birthday when Shah Rukh came to the party with wife Gauri (and good friend Aamir Khan). Reports say Salman was miffed with SRK for turning down a guest role in Main aur Mrs Khanna, and taunted SRK that his show Kya Aap Paanchvi Paas Hai had flopped while his Dus Ka Dum had fared much better.

The usually witty SRK didn't take this sportingly and retorted with a joke on his Salman's ex, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. One thing led to another and a verbal fight ensued, and Aamir, Katrina and Gauri, had to intervene. Angry man Salman Khan got into a fight with friend and producer Bunty Walia at Maantya Dutt's birthday party on Thursday (July 24, 2011). Sources say even hosts Sanjay and Maanyata were at the receiving end of Salman's ire, almost leading to Sanjay Dutt walking out of co-hosting the new season of reality show Bigg Boss with Salman.

Indian Idol Season 1 winner Abhijeet Sawant had one drink too many in the company of fellow Idol contestant Prajakta Shukre when he rammed his car into a scooter in Santacruz ( November 30, 2010), injuring two persons.

Sawant, who was driving an Audi, then got into a brawl with the pedestrians when they tried to stop them. His ‘contacts' couldn't save him from being beaten up by the mob. Bollywood singer Sonu Nigam and few other aspiring singers rushed to the police station when they learnt about the incident.

Reality show host and star son Aditya Narayan was slapped by a mystery girl on June 29, 2011, at a suburban restobar when he tried getting too cosy with her. According to reports, Aditya was drunk and hanging around with his friends, including his girlfriend Shweta. The actor-singer passed a snide comment on a girl and not taking it in her stride, the girl slapped him.

Actor-turned-politician Govinda made headlines in 2008 for not one but two slapping incidents. On January 16, 2008, he slapped a visitor on the sets of his film Money Hai to Honey Hai, accusing him of misbehaving with artistes, including women.

In September that year, shooting for the yet to be released film Run Bhola Run, Govinda slapped director Neeraj Vora in front of the entire cast and crew.

The only difference being that Govinda's slapping instances were on set and not in a pub.

Sohail Khan roughed up Sikander Kher, son of Anupam and Kiron Kher, in an inebriated state as he passed an unsavoury comment about Salman Khan on (19/12/2005). Ashmit Patel too, jumped to his buddy's favour and the duo roughed up Sikander. Actor Anupam Kher filed a complaint against Ashmit Patel over the fight.

Singer Adnan Sami, who made headlines due to a fight with his wife, received bad publicity for getting into a spat with the son of a top cop. The incident happened at the trial show for the Shahid-Genelia starrer Chance Pe Dance.

Adnan was one of the few invited but soon caused a ruckus when he got into an argument with a fellow viewer. The viewer took objection to Sami placing both his legs on the front seat, thus disturbing the man sitting ahead. A reportedly "completely drunk" Adnan got into a full blown spat, drawing the attention of everyone at the screening.

Zayed Khan bashed up two NRIs from New Zealand for trying to gatecrash his friend and co-star Esha Deol's birthday party at Athena, Mumbai. - 2004 He may not have set pulses racing with any of his releases but he sure is a top contender to own a fight club of his own. Son of actor Sanjay Khan, Zayed has made headlines for everything except his movies.

In 2008, he got into a brawl with two youngsters at a Bandra nightclub.A drunk Zayed Khan was at the club with his cousin Fardeen Khan and wife Natasha. A ‘spirited' Zayed reportedly confronted two men who passed a comment at Natasha when the fight broke out. Farah Khan Ali, Zayed's sister, who was also present at the party, later denied the story.

In 2004, Zayed had been involved in another brawl at a south Mumbai nightclub, this time too allegedly smashed. He reportedly roughed up NRI Rocky Sardana, on the suspicion that he was trying to misbehave with his wife Malaika.

In 2007, Shakti Kapoor incurred the ire of Salim Akhtar (Producer of Batwara, Jigar, and Raja Ki Ayengi Baarat) at the launch party of Mithun Chakraborty's son Mimoh's (now known as Mahakshay) debut film, Jimmy. Not one to be left behind, Shakti Kapoor slapped back and a full fight ensued.

Director Raj N Sippy, Ravi Kissan and a few people who were present, tried to save the producer but they were out- numbered. In the end, Salim fled from the spot and filed a complaint at the Colaba Police Station.

In 2004, actor Shakti Kapoor was allegedly beaten up by two friends following a drunken brawl in Kolkata. The incident occurred at the hotel where Kapoor was staying. An argument reportedly broke out between the three after dinner. Kapoor, who was in the city to shoot for a Bengali film, had filed a complaint with the Bhowanipore police station following the attack.

Once good friends, actors Aditya Pancholi and Ronit Roy came close to hitting each other in public (May 2010). The incident happened at a night club in Mumbai when the two were talking. One thing led to another with the conversation heating up. Soon, Aditya and Ronit were abusing each other and calm was restored only when Aditya's wife, actress Zarina Wahab, intervened.

Rakhi Sawant is not the only one who knows how to remain in the news, singer Mika seems to match her step for step. Rakhi hogged the limelight after being smooched by singer Mika at his birthday bash in 2006. Following the incident, Rakhi lodged a complaint against Mika and two others on charges of molestation and physical abuse.

Mika's bodyguards also roughed up a friend of Rakhi, DJ Shezwood, who was rushed to hospital. The bindaas Rakhi then addressed the media the next day, saying, "I am an Indian woman. I will not allow a liplock — a peck on the cheek is okay." She also said that this wasn't the first time that Mika kissed her.

Sometimes, actors too are accosted by smashed or otherwise high-spirited fans, coming up next.

Bollywood macho-man Salman Khan was allegedly slapped by a girl in a party hosted by fashion designer Sanjana Jon (October 2009). Salman, along with brother Sohail Khan, Sushmita Sen, Riya Sen and other celebrities were enjoying the party when a girl named Monika forcibly entered the party and clashed with Sushmita Sen.

When Salman asked her to leave the party she slapped him. Salman's actor brother Sohail Khan later dismissed the media report but admitted to chaos created by a drunken girl.

South siren Genelia D'Souza can surely give her heroes a run for their money. The otherwise bubbly actor had gone to inaugurate a sari showroom in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh in November 2010. The moment Genelia stepped in the showroom, the unruly crowd tried to get too close.

The security failed to be of any use when a fan attempted to touch Genelia. She took matters in her own hands and slapped the fan, thus silencing the entire crowd. The ‘slapped fan' was immediately taken into police custody.