Ex-Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) zonal director Sameer Wankhede has sued Red Chillies Entertainment and Netflix for defamation over the scandalous series The Ba*ds of Bollywood, which he says portrays him in a bad light. The co-created show by Aryan Khan has caused big controversy upon release, with Wankhede claiming that the satire aims not only at him but also demeans the efforts of those who battle drug abuse.
Wankhede had asserted that he had moved the Delhi High Court on his own and not as a government official. “My personal opinion is that there is no relation between my profession or my job and this,” he said, declining further comment on the legal case since it is sub judice.
Wankhede also disclosed that the backlash has moved beyond criticism with hate messages reaching his family from outside India. “We have frequently reported the threats given to my sister and my wife by the police on a regular basis. I will not accept the fact that because of me, they have to bear the brunt of it,” he said, showing alarm over the increasing online abuse faced by his loved ones from nations like Pakistan, the UAE, and Bangladesh.
In reply to the criticism, Aryan Khan came to the defense of the series, saying the show was meant to be satirical, not a documentary. “We were taking liberties with it for screen, naturally, but naturally, there’ll be things that are inspired. There’ll be scenes that are inspired by certain realities, and there’ll be exaggerations,” Aryan said, further adding, “If you don’t like it, the show is not meant for you.”
He admitted there were some scenes that invited internal arguments on the sets, but stood firm on his creative position. “We did receive some notes on some scenes where they were like, ‘Oh, this is too this, or this is too that,’ but then I took a stand,” Aryan said.
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The Delhi High Court has also heard Wankhede’s complaint and issued summons to Red Chillies Entertainment, Netflix, X Corp, Google, Meta, and others. The next date for hearing is October 30.
The Ba*ds of Bollywood stars an ensemble cast of Bobby Deol, Lakshya, Raghav Juyal, Anya Singh, Manoj Pahwa, and Sahher Bambba, with special guest appearances by Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, Disha Patani, and S. S. Rajamouli.
