Red Chillies Defends Netflix Series Against Wankhede’s Lawsuit

Red Chillies Entertainment has formally responded to a defamation lawsuit filed by Sameer Wankhede regarding the series The Ba***ds of Bollywood. Wankhede, a former officer with the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), alleges that the show was crafted to damage his reputation. He claims that a character in the series closely resembles him in both appearance and mannerisms, reflecting nuances of his public persona, as reported by Bollywood Hungama.

In its legal response, Red Chillies Entertainment clarified that the series is intended as a satire of the Bollywood industry, with characters deliberately exaggerated to enhance the humor. The production company characterized Wankhede’s lawsuit as an effort to restrict artistic expression, suggesting that his reaction to the portrayal stems from “hypersensitivity.” They pointed out that Wankhede’s public image had already been subjected to intense scrutiny during and after the 2021 drugs case involving actor Shah Rukh Khan‘s son, Aryan Khan. This scrutiny, they argue, was a product of widespread media coverage and public discourse that had shaped his reputation long before the series aired.

Red Chillies further asserted that the lawsuit seeks to suppress legitimate satire and creative freedom. The company is represented by senior advocates Neeraj Kishan Kaul and Shyel Trehan, who have urged the court to refrain from ordering any cuts or deletions from the series. They argue that such alterations would disrupt the narrative integrity of the show.

The production house emphasized that the series does not mention Wankhede by name, noting that the character in question is merely an “overzealous cop.” This characterization reflects a common trope in satirical storytelling, which often exaggerates real-life figures for comedic effect.

The matter was brought before Justice Purushindra Kumar on November 9, 2023, and has been adjourned to November 10, 2023, for the next hearing. The Ba***ds of Bollywood, currently available for streaming on Netflix, has attracted attention for its sharp critique of celebrity culture, media sensationalism, and the moral complexities within the film industry. This controversy has reignited discussions about the delicate balance between satire and defamation, underlining the ongoing tensions surrounding artistic expression in a rapidly evolving media landscape.