Netflix Opposes IRS Officer Sameer Wankhede’s Plea to Block Aryan Khan’s Netflix Series “The Ba*ds of Bollywood”**

OTT platform Netflix on Thursday opposed the petition filed by IRS officer Sameer Wankhede seeking an interim injunction against the streaming of The Ba**ds of Bollywood*, arguing before the Delhi High Court that the series is a satirical and dark-comedy portrayal of Bollywood and cannot be restrained through a defamation suit.

Wankhede alleges that the show contains defamatory content targeting him personally and has sought that the series be taken down from various platforms.

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Netflix: “It’s satire; defamation threshold not met”

Appearing for Netflix, senior advocate Rajiv Nayar argued that Wankhede is being “oversensitive” about a 90-second satirical scene, especially when he himself admits that it is satire. Nayar submitted that:

• The legal threshold for defamation is extremely high.

• Such claims cannot be proved at an interlocutory stage.

• Wankhede must establish malice during the full trial, after which damages—if any—can be assessed.

“Just saying that the show is by Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan is not enough. He has to prove malice,” Nayar said, adding that the series is a broad lampooning of Bollywood, portraying “bad ways of the industry” through parody and exaggeration.

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Red Chillies: “Satire is protected artistic expression”

Shah Rukh Khan-led Red Chillies Entertainment, which produced the series, also strongly opposed the plea. In its response, the production house argued that:

• The suit lacks territorial jurisdiction, calling the case “forum shopping” since both parties are based in Mumbai.

• The show is a legitimate artistic expression that uses satire and parody to comment on:

  • Nepotism

  • Paparazzi culture

  • Adultery

  • Struggles of outsiders in Bollywood

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Wankhede: “The show is revenge for the 2021 drugs case”

In his rejoinder, Wankhede alleged that the “defamatory content” was deliberately created to settle personal scores and “avenge” the 2021 arrest of Aryan Khan in a high-profile drugs case that he had supervised as a senior NCB officer.

He has sought ₹2 crore in damages, which he says should be donated to Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital.

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Violations alleged: disrespect to national emblem & depiction of agencies

Wankhede’s plea also argues that the series:

• Portrays anti-drug enforcement agencies negatively, potentially eroding public trust.

• Includes a scene where a character shows the middle finger after saying “Satyamev Jayate”—part of India’s National Emblem.

This, he contends, is a serious breach of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, attracting penal consequences.

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Court Proceedings

On October 8, the High Court had issued notices to:

• Red Chillies Entertainment

• Netflix

• X Corp

• Google LLC

• Meta Platforms

• RPSG Lifestyle Media

• Several “John Doe” parties

They were asked to file replies within seven days.

On Thursday, Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav listed the matter for December 2 to hear Wankhede’s rejoinder and asked his counsel to file written submissions.