‘Humour is subjective’: Aryan Khan defends The Ba***ds of Bollywood amid controversy

Aryan Khan has finally responded to the growing debate around his directorial debut Ba***ds of Bollywood*. In a recent conversation with Variety, he admitted that while parts of the Netflix series are drawn from real-life experiences, the show was never intended to offend or insult anyone.

His comments come after former NCB officer Sameer Wankhede filed a defamation case against Red Chillies Entertainment and Netflix, claiming the show contains a character loosely based on him. Wankhede alleged that the portrayal damaged his reputation and questioned the credibility of law enforcement.

Addressing the criticism, Aryan explained that the team approached the project with caution and respect for the film industry. “We wanted to be self-deprecating, but not disrespectful anywhere,” he said. “Making something about the industry while being part of it requires sensitivity. The idea was to laugh at ourselves first. Comedy works best when you can take a joke on yourself.”

He added that most people within the industry appreciated the humour. “People were extremely sporting,” he noted, saying his team consciously drew the line before anything could be seen as offensive.

Aryan also admitted there were moments of creative disagreement during production. “We did get some notes on certain scenes being too much, but I took a stand. If you don’t like it, maybe the show isn’t for you. Someone else might find it funny, humour is subjective,” he said.

Clarifying further, Aryan stressed that the show mixes satire and exaggeration. “It’s not a documentary. Of course, there are scenes inspired by real experiences, but they’re dramatized for the screen,” he explained.

Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court has issued summons to Red Chillies Entertainment, Netflix, X Corp, Google, and Meta regarding Wankhede’s defamation plea. The next hearing is scheduled for October 30.

The series features Laksh Lalwani, Bobby Deol, Raghav Juyal, Anya Singh, Manoj Pahwa, and Sahher Bambba, along with cameos by Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, Disha Patani, and SS Rajamouli.