Former officer of India’s Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Sameer Wankhede has filed an INR 2 crore defamation suit in the Delhi High Court against Netflix, Red Chillies Entertainment and others involved in the Netflix series The Ba***ds of Bollywood, alleging that the show falsely portrays him in negative light.
The series, which marks the directorial debut of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan, has drawn criticism for its close parallels to Wankhede’s real-life role in the 2021 cruise drug case involving him.
Wankhede claims that a character in the show is clearly modeled after him and undermines the credibility of anti-drug agencies. He also objected to a scene where the national motto Satyamev Jayate is followed by an obscene gesture — an act he says violates the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, and various provisions under the IT Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
The timing of the series’ release, while legal proceedings related to the 2021 drug case are still ongoing, is another major point of contention. Wankhede argues it could prejudice public opinion and damage his reputation further.
Wankhede has pledged to donate any awarded damages to the Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital, framing the case as one of principle rather than profit.
Meanwhile, Aryan Khan’s much-awaited debut The Ba***ds of Bollywood on Netflix is being wildly discussed on social media for being loaded with satire, drama, fighting scenes and masala.
The series is also filled with A-list Bollywood cameos, including those by Shah Rukh, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, Ranveer Singh, Badshah, Karan Johar, Ranbir Kapoor, Disha Patani and Emraan Hashmi among others.