The Delhi High Court has raised concerns regarding potential bias in the satirical series “The Ba***ds of Bollywood,” created by Aryan Khan and produced by Red Chillies Entertainment and Netflix. This critique came during the court’s examination of a defamation complaint filed by Sameer Wankhede, a former officer of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB).
In his lawsuit, Wankhede claims that the show’s portrayal of a character bears a resemblance to him and inflicts damage to his reputation. While the court acknowledged that the series is satirical, it also noted that the depiction could be seen as skewed, referring to the specific historical context involving Wankhede and the show’s narrative.
During the hearing, Senior Advocate Kaul, representing Red Chillies, defended the show, arguing that such satire is a fundamental part of creative expression. He emphasized the right to depict inspired characters in entertainment, likening it to the work of renowned cartoonists such as RK Laxman, who famously utilized satire in his illustrations. The court responded to this analogy by asserting that Laxman’s work did not contain the same level of bias as that found in “The Ba***ds of Bollywood.”
The series centers around a plain-clothed cop tackling the drug trade, with many viewers interpreting the character as a reflection of Wankhede. His legal action seeks not only financial restitution but also the removal of specific scenes featuring the character in question from the show.
Directed by Aryan Khan, “The Ba***ds of Bollywood” features a cast that includes Lakshya, Sahher Bambba, Bobby Deol, Raghav Juyal, Mona Singh, Anya Singh, and Manoj Pahwa. The series is currently available for streaming on Netflix.