A hellish Week 1 for Made in Heaven 2 makers, with designer Tarun Tahiliani firing the latest missile

Made In Heaven Season 2, the Prime Video series created by Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti, has largely received praise and managed to captivate audiences with its exploration of complex societal norms and the complexities of human relationships; with weddings in sharp focus.

However, despite all the praise it received for tackling relevant social issues, Made In Heaven Season 2 has found itself wrapped in a few controversies, which have cast a shadow on its otherwise positive reception.

ALSO READ | Made in Heaven Season 2 Review: Fabulous fashion, too many moral lessons

Designer Tarun Tahiliani's outrage

• In the latest controversy, celebrity fashion designer Tarun Tahiliani has voiced his displeasure over the portrayal of his designs in the second episode of Season 2, Beauty and the Beast.
• In a series of Instagram stories, Tahiliani expressed shock and disappointment, accusing the showrunners of "a breach of faith".

• He lamented that the designs he lent to the production in good faith, were associated with a fictional character's label, Akshay Jaiswal (portrayed by actor Kashyap Baldev Shangari) on the show.
• Tahiliani asserted that if such representation was intentionally portrayed by the makers, a legit costume designer should have been engaged to avoid any misrepresentation, like celebrated designer Sabyasachi was roped in to play himself.

• The outrage goes on to show the need for transparency and proper credit in the entertainment industry in the future.

Yashica Dutt's claims snubbed

• Another controversy from a few days ago was Dalit author Yashica Dutt claiming that the show's creators used her life story and experiences without due credit in the fifth episode, The Heart Skipped a Beat.

• The creators promptly denied her claims, stating that the character played by Radhika Apte was not drawn from Yashica's life, despite the director of the episode, Neeraj Ghaywan, acknowledging that the interview scene was inspired by an interview that Yashica gave.

ALSO READ: Made in Heaven makers hit back at Yashica Dutt's credit snub claims with a new post

Polygamy

• In the following episode, Warrior Princesses, the show delves into the story of Shehnaz (played by Dia Mirza), a Muslim woman grappling with her husband's desire for a second marriage.

• This portrayal of the prevalence of polygamy in upscale Muslims and stereotyping of the community with aadab, shararas and Rooh Afza has been criticised by many.

The controversies have highlighted the complexities of credit, representation, and authenticity in the entertainment industry. As the series continues to resonate with audiences, it remains to be seen how its creators navigate the swamp.