New Delhi/Mumbai: Ex-Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) officer and Indian Revenue Service officer Sameer Wankhede has filed a defamation suit in the Delhi High Court against Red Chillies Entertainment Pvt. Ltd., owned by actor Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri Khan, global streaming platform Netflix, and others, over the series Ba***ds of Bollywood, directed by Aryan Khan. Wankhede alleges that the series contains false, malicious, and defamatory content aimed at damaging his personal and professional reputation.

The eight-episode series, which premiered on September 18, has stirred major controversy after a character in the first episode appeared to closely resemble Wankhede. He had led the NCB team that arrested Aryan Khan in the high-profile 2021 Mumbai cruise drug case. According to his plea, some scenes in the show intentionally portray him in a negative light and are crafted to malign his image. While the specific scenes have not been detailed in the petition, social media users were quick to point out the striking resemblance between Wankhede and a character shown in the first episode.

The character in question is portrayed as a loud officer dressed in a white shirt and dark pants, who storms into a Bollywood party while claiming to be part of a “war against drugs” under an agency called "NCG" — a fictional name that closely mirrors "NCB." The character’s appearance, mannerisms, and dialogue have sparked online speculation that the portrayal is a satirical take on Wankhede. Many viewers took to social media, suggesting the show was indirectly mocking the officer.

Adding to the buzz, another character accompanying the officer in the scene drew comparisons to Kiran Gosavi, the man who was controversially photographed with Aryan Khan at the time of his arrest in 2021. Gosavi’s involvement in the raid was also widely criticised and remains under scrutiny.

In his suit, Wankhede has sought damages of ₹2 crore from the show’s producers. However, he has also stated that if the court grants damages, the amount should be donated to Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital to support cancer patients.

The petition further argues that the series spreads a misleading and negative portrayal of anti-drug enforcement agencies, thereby eroding public trust in law enforcement institutions. Wankhede contends that the show was deliberately conceptualised and executed to malign him in a “colourable and prejudicial manner,” particularly at a time when the legal matter involving him and Aryan Khan is still pending before the Bombay High Court and the Special NDPS Court in Mumbai.

Neither Netflix nor the creators of the series have publicly commented on the legal action or the claims raised in the petition.

NHRC calls for FIR against Ranbir Kapoor and Netflix

In a separate controversy involving the same series, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has urged the Mumbai Police to register an FIR against actor Ranbir Kapoor, the show’s producers, the production house, and Netflix. The complaint revolves around a scene in the finale episode where Kapoor is seen smoking an e-cigarette on screen without any statutory health warning or disclaimer.

The NHRC acted on a complaint filed by the Legal Rights Observatory. In a letter addressed to the Mumbai Police Commissioner, NHRC member Priyank Kanoongo pointed out that the depiction violates the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2019, which prohibits the promotion, advertisement, and use of e-cigarettes in India.