Aryan Khan breaks silence on controversy over ‘The Ba***ds of Bollywood’

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s son, Aryan Khan, has finally addressed the controversy surrounding his directorial debut, ‘The Ba***ds of Bollywood’, currently streaming on Netflix. 

During an interview with Variety, Aryan explained the thought process behind the show’s humour and responded to the ongoing defamation suit filed by IRS officer Sameer Wankhede.

Also Read: The Ba***ds of Bollywood’s untold story: Aryan Khan's smile phobia to sleepless nights

‘Self-Deprecating, Not Disrespectful’

Speaking about the series’ tone, Aryan clarified that his intent was never to mock the film industry but to portray it with humour and honesty. 

“We wanted to be self-deprecating, but not disrespectful anywhere,” he said.

He added, “Making something about the industry while being part of it comes with a lot of respect. People being able to take jokes on themselves is the most important thing about comedy.”

Further, Aryan mentioned that the team had set creative boundaries right from the start to ensure the show, maintained respect. 

He explained that they made a conscious effort not to cross limits or be disrespectful, focusing instead on being self-deprecating. 

Aryan further added that the series features exaggerated scenes inspired by real-life situations but clarified that it is purely a work of fiction and not a documentary.

About the Series

The ‘Ba***ds of Bollywood’ features Lakshya, Bobby Deol, Raghav Juyal, Anya Singh, Manoj Pahwa, Manish Chaudhari, Sahher Bambba, Gautami Kapoor, and Rajat Bedi, with special cameos by Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, SS Rajamouli, and others.

Also Read: Sameer Wankhede vs Aryan Khan: Ex-NCB officer sues Netflix, Red Chillies

Sameer Wankhede’s Defamation Case

The controversy escalated when Sameer Wankhede filed a Rs 2 crore defamation suit in the Delhi High Court against Aryan, Red Chillies Entertainment, and Netflix, claiming the series damaged his reputation. The court has issued summons to all parties, with the next hearing set for October 30.

Wankhede, who led the 2022 Cordelia cruise drug case involving Aryan Khan, was later accused of blackmail and removed from the investigation. The case against Aryan was eventually dropped after he spent 25 days in jail.