When Bollywood beat Modi: Here’s Google’s list of most searched Indians in 2015

We are halfway through December and it’s that time again when we review all that has happened in the year gone by. There are things we want to remember and things we want to forget, such as the embarrassing monsters in our internet search history. Well, the internet doesn’t forget and like every year, Google has released the 2015 version of ‘Year in Search’. Here is the list of the Most ‘Googled’ Indians in 2015, which unsurprisingly is dominated by Bollywood. Sunny Leone [caption id=“attachment_2549044” align=“alignleft” width=“825”]  Sunny Leone. Getty Images[/caption] Question: Who was the most searched person on Google in India? Hint: It is the same person who was on top in 2014, and 2013 as well as 2012. Answer: Sunny Leone For the fourth consecutive year, the former adult film star and current Bollywood actress has been perched atop Google’s Most Searched People in India list, for some reason (take a wild guess but for those with a not-so-active-imagination, “Sunny Leone - Desi Porn | SunnyLeone.com” is the first website that pops up when you type in her name in the search engine.) Notwithstanding the temporary ban on porn and other assorted websites India saw earlier this year, she has not been displaced at the top. Apart from the usual reasons, Leone also starred in the very forgettable Ek Paheli Leela and Kuch Kuch Locha Hain this year, but most people still probably search for her.. er… previous hits. She was also the most searched Bollywood actress, obviously. Salman Khan [caption id=“attachment_2549046” align=“alignleft” width=“825”]  Salman Khan. PTI[/caption] In 2014, Salman ‘Bhai’ Khan was No 3 but this year, just like his Bharjatiya alter ego ‘Prem’, has returned to the second spot he occupied in 2013. This was a big year for him - Salman Khan had three major releases - Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Prem Ratan Dhan Payo and the 2002 hit-and-run case. Apart from earning crores at the box office, the courtroom drama of a brief conviction and sentence followed by the High Court acquittal in the 13-year old case with several court appearances were enough to keep him high in the national conscious. Bhai was also on top of Bollywood, as the most searched actor, ahead of Shah Rukh Khan. (Bhai 1, Badshah 0) APJ Abdul Kalam [caption id=“attachment_2549048” align=“alignleft” width=“825”]  APJ Abdul Kalam. Reuters[/caption] The former President and probably one of the most loved politicians, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, in the country passed away in July this year, while delivering a lecture to students in Shillong. What followed was an outpouring of united emotion rarely seen in India, with people and institutions paying their respect to the India’s Missile Man. From his passing, to his state funeral and the tributes such as renaming Aurangzeb Road and missiles after him, it comes as no surprise that Kalam’s name is on this list. Katrina Kaif [caption id=“attachment_2549050” align=“alignleft” width=“825”]  Katrina Kaif. Solaris[/caption] Second only to Sunny Leone among Bollywood actresses, Katrina Kaif has maintained her No 4 position from 2014. Although her only film of 2015, Kabir Khan’s Phantom with Saif Ali Khan, failed to make any impact on the box office or critic reviews, Katrina was talked about because of her relationship with Ranbir Kapoor. Deepika Padukone [caption id=“attachment_2549052” align=“alignleft” width=“825”]  Deepika Padukone. AFP[/caption] It is safe to say that in an industry dominated by male ‘superstars’, Deepika Padukone is a certified star in her own right. All the films she has been part of since Cocktail in 2012 have been well-received, either at the box office or by the critics and sometimes even both. This year, she starred in the much acclaimed, female-centric film Piku alongside Amitabh Bachchan, topped it up with her performance in Tamasha with Ranbir Kapoor (who himself said he banked on her box office luck for a hit), has looked stunning as the warrior-queen Mastani in whatever we have seen of Bajirao Mastani so far, spoken about her struggle with depression and set up a foundation, came up much-discussed ‘My Choice’ video. Fair to say, Deepika Padukone is here to stay, in news and on Google. She is also No 3 on the most searched Bollywood actress list. Shah Rukh Khan [caption id=“attachment_2549054” align=“alignleft” width=“825”]  Shah Rukh Khan. AFP[/caption] Bollywood’s Badshah is No 2 on the list of most searched actors and even lower at six on the most searched people in India, which is an improvement from 2014 when he was eighth. He has not had a release so far this year, but he aims to end 2015 with Dilwale,  renewing his iconic pair with Kajol, exactly 20 years after Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge. He was also dominated headlines with the infamous ‘intolerance’ debate when at a media interaction on his 50th birthday he said that there is growing intolerance in India. Yo Yo Honey Singh [caption id=“attachment_2549056” align=“alignleft” width=“825”]  Yo Yo Honey SIngh. AFP[/caption] If you have searched for Yo Yo Honey Singh on Google, even if it is only to check out his abysmal rendition of the 90s hit Dheere Dheere (or check out Hrithik Roshan/Sonam Kapoor), you are guilty… of keeping him on this list. 2015 was quite a topsy-turvy year for the musician, with a rift with Raftaar over song credit and talks of him being in rehab, but he made his mark in Bollywood with the aforementioned remix, and item songs for Gabbar is Back and Bhaag Johnny. Kajal Aggarwal [caption id=“attachment_2549058” align=“alignleft” width=“825”]  Kajal Aggarwal. AFP[/caption] To be honest, we are as surprised as you to find the Singham actress in the top 10 list, especially considering she isn’t in the top 10 Bollywood actress list. But then Kajal Aggwawal was probably not the search term several people types to get the actress, primarily known for films in South Indian cinema, in this list. Alia Bhatt [caption id=“attachment_2549060” align=“alignleft” width=“825”]  Solaris[/caption] Alia Bhatt was sixth on last year’s list with hit films such as 2 States, Highway and Humpty Sharma ki Dulhaniya. In comparison, she had only one film in 2015 and Shaandaar was probably one of the biggest duds of the year (For all the hype, Vikas Bahl and Shahid Kapoor) However, she managed to be among the top five Bollywood actresses on Google’s list, confirming that despite flops, she is one to watch out for. Narendra Modi [caption id=“attachment_2549062” align=“alignleft” width=“825”]  Narendra Modi. PTI[/caption] Surprise, surprise. Look who is on the No 10 position on the lost of most searched Indian falling from the No 2 position in 2014. In his second year as prime minister, Narendra Modi moved down eight spaces in the list. Modi had an eventful year with foreign visits, Bihar election campaigning and Parliamentary appearances. But clearly, he has been in the news so regularly, maybe one didn’t even have to search for him on Google.