Red Chillies counters Sameer Wankhede in court, denies "Cordelia cruise story" link to Aryan Khan's show

Shah Rukh Khan's Red Chillies Entertainment has defended its web series "The Ba***ds of Bollywood" against a defamation lawsuit filed by IRS officer Sameer Wankhede. The production house's counsel, Neeraj Kishan Kaul, argued in the Delhi High Court that the show is a satire, drawing inspiration from overzealous officers, but does not reference the Cordelia cruise case, in which Wankhede was involved. Kaul emphasized that satire and fiction can coexist, and the show does not defame Wankhede.

Red Chillies Entertainment, owned by Shah Rukh Khan, opposed IRS officer Sameer Wankhede's plea for an interim injunction on the series "The Ba***ds of Bollywood" in Delhi High Court on Wednesday.

Red Chillies argues before Justice

During the hearing, senior advocate Neeraj Kishan Kaul, representing Red Chillies, argued before Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav that satire and fiction are permissible.

Can satire and fiction co-exist? There is no law that it cannot co-exist. I may be partly inspired by real persons and stories yet there can be disclaimers, no problem with two existing together. Where is the ill-will or malice? This is about a success story in a Bollywood party, Kaul said on behalf of his client.

Kaul added, We are not looking at people who are sensitive, hurt is not ground for malice. Can you pick a stray instance, a passage here or there? The series is about 20 different issues. We do not show a documentary on the Cordelia cruise incident. I am inspired by overzealous officers. That is far from saying that this is the Cordelia cruise story.

About Aryan Khan’s case

Aryan Khan was arrested in October 2021 by the NCB, led by Sameer Wankhede, over alleged drug-related charges on the Cordelia cruise ship. He spent over three weeks in jail before being released. Later, he received a clean chit in the case.

Red Chillies Entertainment's counsel, Neeraj Kishan Kaul, criticized Wankhede, alleging he frequently speaks to the media and discussed issues related to the case after the Netflix series' release. Kaul's comments came while opposing Wankhede's plea seeking an interim injunction on "The Ba***ds of Bollywood," claiming the series defames him.

Wankhede has sued Red Chillies Entertainment and others, seeking ?2 crore in damages for alleged defamation. The Delhi High Court has issued notices and scheduled further hearings.

You cannot say that the person depicting ills in Bollywood cannot show overzealous officers. I cannot be responsible for what other people say… I am fully entitled to depict issues ailing Bollywood. Even if I am to project someone, a public official cannot be that thin-skinned, Kaul said on behalf of Red Chillies.

Defamation case

The Delhi High Court is hearing a defamation case filed by IRS officer Sameer Wankhede against Shah Rukh Khan's Red Chillies Entertainment and Netflix over the web series "The Ba***ds of Bollywood". Wankhede alleges a scene in the show mocks him and contains false, malicious, and defamatory content, damaging his reputation.

Red Chillies' counsel, Neeraj Kishan Kaul, argued that the show is a satire, exaggerating scenes to critique overzealous officials, not Wankhede specifically. Kaul emphasized, Even if I portray you unjustly, it is still not a case. Every scene in this show is exaggerated. I am not ridiculing him or the emblem. I am talking about officials who have lofty ideas.

The court has issued notices to Red Chillies and Netflix, with Netflix set to respond on Thursday. Wankhede seeks ?2 crore in damages, which he'd donate to Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital.