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A rough ride: Shah rukh

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times for Shah Rukh Khan in 2013. While the Baadshah of Bollywood ended the year on a high note with his Chennai Express going on to garner over Rs 200 crore at the box office (some reports peg the number closer to Rs 300 crore in gross earnings), it was a year of much personal turmoil as well.

In May, he underwent a surgery his eighth for an injury he sustained while shooting for Chennai Express. No sooner had he recuperated from the procedure, that was performed at Mumbais Lilavati Hospital, that reports emerged of a new addition to the King Khans family. While Shah Rukh soon shared news about his and wife Gauris youngest child AbRam (born through surrogacy) with the world, he found himself embroiled in a fresh controversy after allegations that the Khans had undergone a pre-natal sex determination test later established as untrue.

Then, just when things were beginning to look bright again for the superstar there was a much-publicised hug with Salman Khan at an iftar party that was believed to have ended their long estrangement (although both stars camps said they were just being polite) he was stuck in a plagiarism row over a speech he made at the All India Management Association.

Of course, theres no balm like success, but even his triumph with Chennai Express was tinged by controversy. Heading into a box office clash with Balaji Telefilms Once Upon A Time in Mumbai 2, SRK and production house UTV reportedly struck a deal with Ekta Kapoor to push back OUATIM2s release by a week, in exchange for freeing up a few screening venues at that time. The OUATIM2 team alleged that the Chennai Express makers backtracked on the agreement, and caused huge losses for their film.

With all the controversies now in the past, heres hoping SRK has a Happy New Year to look forward to in 2014 in more ways than one.

Katrina Kaifs Bikini-gate

Resourceful fans have been leaking photos of Katrina Kaif and Ranbir Kapoor online for a long time now. But in late July, photos surfaced of a bikini-clad Katrina frolicking on the beaches of Ibiza with Ranbir. The images were widely published. While she has since claimed to be okay with it, Katrina didnt seem as sanguine when she wrote this open letter in August: I feel most upset, distressed and invaded at my pictures (being) published... The pictures were taken while I was on holiday by someone who has shot without permission and used the pictures for commercial gain.

Ranveer-Deepika link-up

She is yin to my yang, said Ranveer Singh of his Goliyon Ki Raasleela: Ram-Leela co-star Deepika Padukone. We are complementing energies.

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