As they say, nothing goes waste. As the year comes to a close, hitlist sifts through the hits and flops and controversies of 2015 to see the gems of lessons, some sweet and some bitter, that came out of them...

Music has boundaries and bullies do win sometimes.

Ghulam Ali

Shiv Sena yet again reared its head to protest against Pakistani Ghazal singer Ghulam Ali from performing in Mumbai. Ali chose not to perform anywhere else in India.

Nobody's a holy cow

Bombay Velvet

The giant disaster called 'Bombay Velvet' was a clear example that you could take one of country's hotshot and maverick directors to pair with one of the most promising stars, but it won't guarantee success. Some call it lack of focus, some arrogance, but the truth is there is no fixed formula for anything.

Exes can be friends, especially if there is also a film promotion involved

Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone

Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone have always maintained that they share a cordial relationship even after their break-up; call us cynical but the professing of undying love for each other just before the release of their film together was a little hard to digest, even then.

In the testosterone-driven world of cricket, a woman's presence can only be a distraction

Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma.

It started from India's tour of England last year and continued during this year's semi-finals. When Virat Kohli performed badly on the pitch, fans looking for a scapegoat, chose to blame his 'jinxed' actress-girlfriend Anushka Sharma. Ironically, when Kohli regained form, she was not given any credit.

Even the purest can be censored

Prem Ratan Dhan Payo

Who would think that Sooraj Barjatya will be introduced to the special pair of scissors that the Censor Board so proudly possesses (for 'Prem Ratan Dhan Payo')?


Sooraj Barjatya

While poor Soorajji must still be reeling under shock, the board continues giving us a free ride on the time machine back to the dark ages.

Free speech is a farce

Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan

The biggest stars of the biggest democratic nation of the world, Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan 'dared' to speak about growing intolerance in the country, and there was an immediate and ugly backlash from people, political parties, bhakts and their idle uncles.

Success is a responsibility
His supremely confident debut Queen put director Vikas Bahl on a pedestal. However, it didn't take long for him to be brought down to mother earth, with his drug addled mess called 'Shaandaar'.


Vikas Bahl

Hopefully, he will operate better from here than seventh heaven.

Bond can do everything, but can't kiss for more than 007 seconds in India


James Bond

The Censor Board's sometimes archaic, sometimes haphazard manner of functioning, how could one forget that James Bond fans were not allowed to watch their hero smooch the delicious Monica Bellucci for 'too long' in Spectre. The board was worried a kiss lasting for a few more seconds would corrupt the impressionable minds. (No looking for logic here, please. We have given up on that exercise a while ago.)