IRS officer Sameer Wankhede has moved the Delhi High Court demanding Rs 2 crore in damages and a permanent injunction against the Netflix series Ba**ds of Bollywood. The seven-part show, directed by Aryan Khan, began streaming on September 18.
In his petition, Sameer alleged that the series “disseminates a misleading and negative portrayal of anti-drug enforcement agencies, thereby eroding public confidence in law enforcement institutions.” He also claimed the project was “deliberately conceptualised and executed with the intent to malign Sameer Wankhede’s reputation in a colourable and prejudicial manner.”
Since the premiere, many viewers have pointed out that a character in the first episode bears a clear resemblance to the former Narcotics Control Bureau officer. Sameer was at the centre of the high-profile 2021 investigation that led to Aryan Khan’s arrest.
The episode in question shows an aggressive officer who introduces himself as part of the “war against drugs” and a member of the “NCG.” He storms into a Bollywood party, criticising the industry’s alleged drug culture. The character’s outfit—white shirt with dark trousers—along with his hairstyle and overall appearance, have led audiences to speculate that he is modelled on Wankhede.
Although the makers of the series have not acknowledged any direct link, discussions online suggest the similarities are unlikely to be coincidental.
Wankhede’s legal filing names Red Chillies Entertainment, run by Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri Khan, Netflix, and other associated parties. He has sought a defamation ruling, a permanent and mandatory injunction, and compensation for what he describes as a “false, malicious, and defamatory” portrayal in Ba**ds of Bollywood.
The series has already sparked further controversy with its finale. A scene involving actor Ranbir Kapoor depicts the use of banned e-cigarettes without displaying the necessary disclaimers. Following a complaint by the Legal Rights Observatory, the National Human Rights Commission has recommended that Mumbai Police register an FIR against Kapoor, the production house, and Netflix. NHRC member Priyank Kanoongo has also written to the city’s police commissioner, pressing for action under the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2019.
