Netflix pushes back on Wankhede defamation case over Ba***ds of Bollywood sequence

Netflix has informed the Delhi High Court that the Aryan Khan-directed webseries, Ba***ds of Bollywood, functions as a satire about the Hindi film industry, and that former Narcotics Control Bureau officer Sameer Wankhede shouldn't be overly sensitive about a 90-second segment that references him.

Senior advocate Rajiv Nayar, representing the streaming platform, contended that the show is an expansive parody of Bollywood. It features Karan Johar referring to himself as movie mafia, Emraan Hashmi in the role of an intimacy coach, and material covering drug abuse, #MeToo movement, casting couch accusations, nepotism, and the insider-outsider debate, according to a Bar and Bench reporting.

The show has been produced by Shah Rukh Khan's Red Chillies Entertainment and distributed on Netflix. It has become central to Wankhede's complaint, for which he is seeking interim relief.

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Nayar referenced Wankhede's previous interviews and public comments, noting the officer had earlier embraced media attention. The counsel questioned why someone who claimed to be unbothered and capable of handling criticism would become sensitive about 90 seconds of satire.

He additionally argued that the past conflict between Khan and Wankhede, stemming from the NCB officer's arrest of Khan in a 2021 drug case, doesn't constitute proof of malice. Even if Khan acted from dislike or ill will, it doesn't reach the legal standard for malice.

The court has directed Wankhede to provide information about all legal proceedings he has initiated or that are currently pending. The next hearing is scheduled for December 2, when Wankhede's counsel, senior advocate J Sai Deepak, will present his response.