Former Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) official Sameer Wankhede has spoken out against the Netflix series “The Ba***ds of Bollywood,” which he claims has ridiculed him and harmed his reputation. During a court hearing concerning his defamation case against Aryan Khan, the show’s star, Wankhede expressed his discontent with the way he has been portrayed, questioning whether he deserves such public mockery.
The Delhi High Court recently resumed hearings on Wankhede’s plea against both Red Chillies Entertainment and Netflix. His legal team referenced social media commentary from self-proclaimed critic Kamaal R. Khan to illustrate the backlash Wankhede has faced since the show’s release. They argue that the series has led the public to believe he lacks integrity, branding him a “chor” (thief).
Defense attorneys for the defendants contended that the CBI and Enforcement Directorate (ED) investigations are unrelated to the show and that Red Chillies is not responsible for its content. Senior Advocate Kaul emphasized that the focus of the case is on Aryan Khan as the show’s creator, not on the production house or streaming service itself.
Wankhede’s legal representative countered this by asserting that both Red Chillies and Netflix should bear some responsibility for the depictions in the series. They alleged that the two entities are working closely together, challenging their claims of being mere intermediaries.
Wankhede rose to prominence in 2021 when he was involved in the arrest of Aryan Khan, but all charges against the young Khan were later dismissed. “The Ba***ds of Bollywood” features a character resembling Wankhede, a plain-clothed officer on a crusade against drug-related issues, drawing significant attention online.
Wankhede is pursuing compensation for defamation and has requested the removal of certain scenes from the show that he believes are defamatory. As the hearings continue, the outcome remains to be seen, but the controversy surrounding both the series and Wankhede continues to spark public interest.