The Delhi High Court recently raised concerns regarding bias in the satirical depiction of former Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) official Sameer Wankhede in Aryan Khan’s web series, The Ba***ds of Bollywood. This discussion emerged during a hearing related to Wankhede’s defamation lawsuit against Red Chillies Entertainment and Netflix, as well as against Khan, the show’s creator.
In its examination, the court acknowledged that while the series employs satire, it may still carry an underlying bias against Wankhede. The case arose after Wankhede alleged that the show’s portrayal of a character he believes resembles him was defamatory. Wankhede’s legal actions have resulted from his connection to the 2021 arrest of Aryan Khan, from which all charges were ultimately dismissed.
Counsel for Red Chillies, Senior Advocate Kaul, defended the series by asserting a fundamental right to satirize and express creative inspiration. Citing the example of renowned cartoonist RK Laxman, the advocate highlighted the tradition of satire in India, stating that individuals should not perceive legitimate artistic representation as personal attacks. However, the court contrasted this with the specific context of The Ba***ds of Bollywood, noting that the historical relationship between Wankhede and Aryan Khan exacerbated the implications of bias present in the show.
The Ba***ds of Bollywood features a character that embodies the traits of an anti-drug enforcement officer, leading to public speculation regarding the inspiration behind this portrayal. In his complaint, Wankhede has requested financial compensation and the removal of the character’s scenes from the series.
Directed by Aryan Khan, The Ba***ds of Bollywood includes a cast featuring Lakshya, Sahher Bambba, Bobby Deol, Raghav Juyal, Mona Singh, Anya Singh, and Manoj Pahwa. The series is currently available for streaming on Netflix.