By Background of the Controversy
New Delhi: Red Chillies Entertainment, owned by Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri Khan, has approached the Delhi High Court seeking dismissal of a defamation suit filed by former NCB officer Sameer Wankhede. The suit concerns the Netflix series ‘Ba*ds of Bollywood’**, created, co-written, and directed by Aryan Khan, Shah Rukh Khan’s son.
Wankhede claims that Episode 1, specifically between timestamps 32:02 and 33:50, features a character resembling him, allegedly tarnishing his reputation. However, Red Chillies argues that the series is satirical in nature and does not amount to defamation.
Red Chillies’ Defense: Satire, Parody, and Artistic Expression
In its 35-page reply filed in October, Red Chillies described the series as a situational satire on the Bollywood industry. Advocate Pranav Sarthi highlighted that all characters are intentionally exaggerated to create humor and critique absurd situations.
“The suit seeks to suppress legitimate artistic expression, parody, and satire, which are legally protected. The Plaintiff’s claim reflects hypersensitivity rather than genuine harm,” the reply stated.
Red Chillies further emphasized that Sameer Wankhede was already under public scrutiny due to alleged bribery charges in the Aryan Khan NCB case. The company argued that his public image had already been affected before the release of the series.
Character Depiction and Narrative Importance
The contested clip features a police officer arriving in a private vehicle, chanting ‘Satyamev Jayate’, and wearing a luxury belt and wristwatch. Red Chillies stated that:
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The character is portrayed as an “overzealous officer” without directly naming Wankhede.
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The character appears for less than two minutes and is essential to the series’ storyline.
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Deleting the clip would break the narrative and compromise the series’ integrity.
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The officer drives a non-government vehicle, which has no link to Wankhede’s official NCB tenure.
Red Chillies insists that the series is purely fictional and emphasizes the satirical nature of its content.
Court Proceedings and Representation
The defamation case was listed before Justice Purushindra Kumar Kaurav but was adjourned to November 10 to allow all parties—including Red Chillies, Netflix, and Wankhede—to submit written arguments.
Legal representation:
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Red Chillies Entertainment: Senior advocates Neeraj Kishan Kaul and Shyel Trehan
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Netflix: Senior advocate Rajiv Nayyar
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Sameer Wankhede: Senior advocate J Sai Deepak
Key Takeaways
Red Chillies maintains that:
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The series is satirical and comedic.
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Wankhede’s claims are unfounded, given his prior public scrutiny.
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Removing the clip would disrupt the storyline, undermining the series’ overall narrative.
The company insists that the series’ content is protected under law as artistic satire and parody, and therefore, the defamation suit should be dismissed.
