10 Indian Celebrities Who Were The Most Searched Online In 2020
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If we say that 2020 was one of the worst years of your entire lifetime, we’re pretty sure at least half of you would agree. We lost many legends like Irrfan Khan, S. P. Balasubramaniam, Rishi Kapoor, and so many others this year. It was the year of loss for most of us, but at the same time, it also brought new hope of a brighter future. People started feeling conscious of the impact they were leaving on the planet. Many have been fighting to save others at the front lines, and people are finally giving medical workers the respect they deserve. And all in all, the world seems to be headed to a better place. Recently search engine, Yahoo released a list of the most searched Indian personalities in the year 2020, and here are their names:
1. Rhea Chakraborty
Rhea Chakraborty ranked as the most searched female Indian celebrity on the list. The actress had unfortunately been in the news as she had been dating Sushant Singh Rajput. What followed was a deplorable media frenzy with many news organizations harassing and following her and her family around. Eventually, she was cleared of all charges and released from prison. Many media channels created a moral panic surrounding the issue of marijuana use (which was recently removed from a list of dangerous drugs and has been recognized by the UN for its therapeutic purposes) (1).
2. Sushant Singh Rajput
The popular and well-loved actor took his own life in the month of June and what sparked was a media frenzy. The actor had been suffering from mental health issues and was under treatment for the same. Unfortunately, many of his fans refused to accept that his death was due to his depression and campaigned for further investigation. However, the investigation had proven that the actor was suffering from mental health issues and his death was ruled as a suicide and further clarified by AIIMS(2).
3. Amitabh Bachchan
After Sushant Singh Rajput, Amitabh Bachchan was the second most searched male Indian celebrity on the list. Amitabh had been in his fans’ thoughts after him, along with three other members of his immediate family, tested positive for the coronavirus. Thankfully, Big B made an excellent recovery after being quarantined at a private hospital and is now back home and healthy.
4. Kangana Ranaut
Kangana is known for her controversial opinions and often degrading Twitter rants. Once a much loved and popular actress, she has now entered the world of political commentary and heavily favors the ruling party. She also engaged in arguments with the Shiv Sena (ruling party in Mumbai). Many others have called her out for her offensive statements surrounding mental health issues and bullying nature. She recently engaged in a Twitter spat with famous Punjabi singer and actor Diljit Dosanj, and he gave her a taste of her own medicine. She was the 2nd most searched female celebrity this year.
5. Deepika Padukone
Deepika Padukone was the third most searched female celebrity on the list. Deepika had made the rounds of the internet after attending the JNU protests against campus violence in Delhi. She had also been in the news after her manager was found with two bottles of CBD oil (3).
6. Akshay Kumar
Akshay Kumar was in the news after the release of his filmLaxmmi Bomb. Many people took offense to the Goddess’s name being used before the word “bomb”, and the film had to be renamed toLaxmii. Akshay also drew flak from the online community for portraying a transgender person despite identifying as a straight male. He was the third most searched male celebrity on the list.
7. Salman Khan
Salman Khan made the list as the fourth most searched male Indian celebrity. He was in the news for hosting the 14th season ofBigg Boss. Despite leading a controversial life, the actor still has a cult following among his fans. The actor was the 4th most searched male Indian celebrity on the list.
8. Irrfan Khan
Irrfan Khan was one of the few gems of the Indian film industry. Although he wasn’t as popular as the other “Khans” of Bollywood, his extraordinary acting abilities made him an icon for Indian cinema. His versatility on the screen inspired many more to try their hand at joining a somewhat biased industry. Unfortunately, the actor passed away in April after he contracted a severe colon infection. Despite his extraordinary life being cut so short, the actor managed to amass fans in not just India but the global market as well. Irrfan was the 5th most searched male celebrity on the list.
9. Rishi Kapoor
Another industry veteran to meet an untimely death, Rishi Kapoor, had been battling cancer since 2018 and was undergoing treatment for Leukemia when he passed away. Numerous members of the film community mourned his death. He passed away less than 24 hours after hisD-Day co-star Irrfan Khan. Their deaths were considered a significant loss to the Indian film industry. Rishi Kapoor came in as the 6th most searched male celebrity on the list.
10. S. P. Balasubramaniam
The legendary and prolific singer passed away after he contracted coronavirus, and suffered a cardiac respiratory attack at the age of 74. During his illustrious career of over 50 years, he had recorded over 40,000 songs and even broken a Guinness world record. He appeared in the 7th position for most searched male celebrity on the list.
While 2020 may not have been the brightest of years, and the Indian film industry took a massive blow after losing many talented legends this year, it’s not all bad. We need to look at the brighter side of life during times of darkness. And hopefully, better days are coming soon. Do let us know which of the celebrities on this list are your favorite in the comment section below.
