Shah Rukh Khan’s son
Aryan Khan made his directorial debut with the series 'The Ba***ds of Bollywood', but what was meant to be a bold satire on the film industry has now sparked a serious legal row. Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer and former NCB Mumbai Zonal Director, Sameer Wankhede, has accused Shah Rukh Khan’s production house, Red Chillies Entertainment Pvt. Ltd., of releasing “false, malicious and defamatory” content.
As reported by ANI, Wankhede claims the series is not fiction but “a personal vendetta disguised as satire”, created to malign his image after the 2021 Cordelia Cruise drug case involving Shah Rukh Khan’s son, Aryan Khan.
Sameer Wankhede claims the series targets him personally
The report reveals, in his rejoinder before the Delhi High Court, Wankhede alleged that the character of a government officer in the series was clearly modelled on him. He said there were striking resemblances in the officer’s appearance, speech, and even the use of his trademark phrase, “Satyamev Jayate.”
He called the portrayal a “premeditated, targeted campaign” aimed at mocking him and damaging his public image. “The series is not satire but a calculated hit job designed to settle personal scores,” his rejoinder stated. Wankhede added that the content also mocked the national motto ‘Satyamev Jayate’, turning it into a source of ridicule.
Sameer Wankhede says content caused public humiliation
Wankhede asserted that the series had caused him “public humiliation” and triggered a “wave of online ridicule” against him and his family. He added, “My wife and sister are being subjected to offensive and distasteful messages,” calling the damage to his reputation “irreparable.”
“The defendants cannot hide behind the convenient veil of satire or artistic expression to justify a malicious act,” his statement read.
Sameer Wankhede invokes right to reputation in court
In his plea, Wankhede said his right to reputation, protected under Article 21 of the Constitution, had been violated. He urged the Delhi High Court to stop the streaming and promotion of the allegedly defamatory scenes until the defamation suit was decided. His petition demanded a permanent injunction and sought Rs 2 crore in damages from Red Chillies Entertainment and Netflix, holding them responsible for publishing false and harmful content.
Red Chillies denies defamation allegations in response
In response, Red Chillies Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. opposed Wankhede’s plea, calling it “wholly misconceived, untenable in law, and devoid of merit.”
The company maintained that 'The Ba***ds of Bollywood' is a situational satire that neither names nor depicts Wankhede directly. It argued that the show contains no defamatory material and that its creative intent had been misunderstood.
Red Chillies also questioned the maintainability of the case, stating that the Delhi High Court had no jurisdiction since both Wankhede and Netflix are based in Mumbai. The reply said that this jurisdictional defect at inception renders the proceedings a nullity, and such a flaw cannot be corrected through amendments later.
Production house cites satire and artistic freedom
The production house further defended its series, stating that it is a humorous and exaggerated take on Bollywood’s world of glamour, gossip, and power. It said the brief sequence that Wankhede objected to, lasting just one minute and forty-eight seconds, merely portrays an overzealous officer and does not refer to him.
“Satire allows the satirist to criticise in the harshest of terms. Whether the comment is satirical or malicious can only be determined at trial,” the reply stated.
Company argues Wankhede must tolerate public scrutiny
Red Chillies also argued that as a public servant, Wankhede should be able to face public scrutiny. The company’s reply said, “Those who fill public positions must not be too thin-skinned. A person whose conduct has been the subject of official inquiry cannot claim special protection from fair comment or satire.”
The production house called Wankhede’s plea an attempt to restrict creative freedom and stifle legitimate artistic expression. It added that removing the short scene would distort the flow of the show’s storyline, which has been streaming on Netflix since 18 September 2025.
High court lists case for next hearing in November
After hearing the arguments, the Delhi High Court directed all parties to file their written submissions and scheduled the next hearing for 10 November before Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav.
On an earlier date, the court had issued notices to Netflix, Red Chillies Entertainment, and other parties in response to Wankhede’s plea seeking Rs 2 crore in damages and a permanent injunction against the streaming of the show.
Disclaimer: The information in this report is based on a legal hearing as reported by a third-party source. The details provided represent allegations made by the parties involved and are not proven facts. The case is ongoing, and a final verdict has not been reached. The publication does not claim that the allegations are true.
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