Shah Rukh Khan's production company Red Chillies Entertainment has launched a strong legal defense against former NCB officer Sameer Wankhede's defamation suit, arguing that Aryan Khan's directorial debut series The Ba***ds of Bollywood constitutes protected satirical expression under Indian law.
The Legal Battle Intensifies
During recent court proceedings before Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav, senior advocate Neeraj Kishan Kaul representing Red Chillies Entertainment presented a robust defense of the controversial Netflix series. The legal team emphasized that the show represents a legitimate form of artistic expression and social commentary that falls well within legal boundaries.
The production house challenged the very jurisdiction of the case, arguing that Wankhede should have filed his suit in Mumbai rather than Delhi. Kaul accused the former officer of forum shopping, stating that both Wankhede's residence and Red Chillies' registered office are located in Mumbai, making Delhi an inappropriate venue for the legal action.
Satire as Artistic Defense
Red Chillies' legal team mounted a comprehensive defense of the series' satirical nature. Kaul argued that taking a single one-minute scene out of context from a seven-part show cannot reasonably support defamation claims. The lawyer stressed that the series explicitly states it is neither a biopic nor a documentary, giving the creators artistic license to draw inspiration from real-life events and personalities.
The defense highlighted that satire inherently involves exaggeration and wit to convey social messages. Kaul told the court, Every scene is exaggerated and if I don't bring that wit, I will never be able to convey the message I want to convey. The series explores various Bollywood controversies including nepotism, paparazzi culture, and the struggles faced by industry newcomers through satirical lenses.
Background of the Conflict
The legal confrontation stems from Wankhede's objection to a specific scene where a character makes an obscene gesture after a police officer says Satyamev Jayate during an anti-drug raid at a Bollywood party. Wankhede, who served as Mumbai zonal director of the Narcotics Control Bureau during the 2021 Cordelia cruise drug bust, claims the series presents a misleading portrayal of anti-drug enforcement agencies.
Wankhede's legal action seeks Rs 2 crore in damages, which he proposes should be donated to Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital. He alleges the series was deliberately created to settle personal scores related to Aryan Khan's 2021 arrest, where the star kid spent 22 days in jail before being cleared of all charges. Wankhede himself later faced an extortion case related to the incident.
The former NCB officer claims the defamatory content represents a well-crafted conspiracy to misuse cinematic power for personal vendetta and that the satire defense is merely a convenient veil for a calculated hit job. The case continues to unfold with both parties preparing their legal arguments for future hearings.
