Ba*ds of Bollywood: Aryan Khan addresses Sameer Wankhede’s defamation suit, says ‘We wanted to be…’
Even the heir of Bollywood royalty can’t escape controversy when satire meets reality. Aryan Khan, Shah Rukh Khan’s eldest son, finally speaks out on the backlash surrounding his directorial debut, Ba**ds Of Bollywood*.
In a candid interview with Variety, Aryan Khan explained that while his Netflix series draws inspiration from certain real-life incidents, it is entirely fictional and never intended to offend anyone.
“We wanted to be self-deprecating, but not disrespectful anywhere,” Aryan said. “People being able to take jokes on themselves is the first and most important thing about comedy. Take a joke on yourself and then spread the love.”
He added that the team made conscious efforts to maintain sensitivity while highlighting Bollywood’s eccentricities. “People in the industry were extremely sporting,” he said.
How did creative choices spark criticism?
Aryan admitted that some scenes faced internal debate during production. “We did get some notes on certain scenes where they were like, ‘Oh, this is too this, or this is too that,’ but then I took a stand. If you don’t like it, the show is not meant for you… Your 18-year-old kid might like it, or your uncle might enjoy it who appreciates certain humour,” he explained.
He emphasised that the show blends satire with exaggeration. “There’ll be scenes inspired by certain realities, and there’ll be exaggerations. It’s not obviously a documentary,” Aryan said.
Legal battle: defamation lawsuit
The clarification comes amid a defamation lawsuit filed by former NCB officer Sameer Wankhede against Red Chillies Entertainment and Netflix. Wankhede claims that a character in the series defames him, harming his reputation and public trust in law enforcement.
The Delhi High Court has issued summons to Red Chillies Entertainment, Netflix, X Corp, Google, Meta, and others. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for October 30.
Star-studded series with cameos
Ba**ds Of Bollywood* features an ensemble cast including Lakshya, Bobby Deol, Raghav Juyal, Anya Singh, Manoj Pahwa, and Sahher Bambba. Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, Disha Patani, and SS Rajamouli make cameo appearances, adding star power to Aryan’s directorial debut.
Highlights:
- Aryan Khan insists Ba**ds Of Bollywood* is fictional, self-deprecating, and not disrespectful.
- Defamation case filed by Sameer Wankhede has brought legal scrutiny to Netflix and Red Chillies Entertainment.
- Series features an ensemble cast with high-profile cameos, including Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan.
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