IRS officer and former NCB Mumbai zonal director Sameer Wankhede has taken strong exception to Shah Rukh Khan-owned Red Chillies Entertainment’s rescue of its Netflix web series The Ba**ads of Bollywood, calling the show “a calculated hit designed to settle personal scores”. In his rejoinder filed before the Delhi High Court, Wankhede rejected the production house’s claim that the show is satire, saying the series is a deliberate attempt to malign his reputation after the 2021 cruise ship drug raid case involving Aryan Khan, who directed the series.
Sameer Wankhede calls Bollywood’s rogues a “calculated hit job” aimed at settling personal scores: “Shah Rukh Khan, Aryan Khan can’t hide behind sarcasm”
Wankhede alleged, “The character of a government official depicted in the series was deliberately based on him, citing striking similarity in appearance, speech and use of his trademark phrase ‘Satyamev Jayate’. He said the scene was a ‘premeditated, targeted campaign’ aimed at ridiculing him and destroying his reputation.” “Can’t hide behind the convenient curtain of artistic expression.”
However, Red Chillies Entertainment filed a reply arguing that The Ba**ads of Bollywood is a situational satire on Bollywood, featuring exaggerated characters to underline social absurdities, and denied any offensive content. The production company called Wankhede’s suit “completely false, untenable in law and devoid of merit”, warning that removing the controversial scene would disrupt the narrative flow of the series. He also highlighted that Wankhede was “the subject of public ridicule and adverse comment” even before the show’s release.
The Delhi High Court has scheduled further hearing on November 10, directing all parties to submit written arguments.
