The court listed the matter for December 2 to hear the counter arguments of Sameer Wankhede’s lawyer and also asked him to file his written arguments. , Photo courtesy: The Hindu
OTT platform Netflix on Thursday (November 27, 2025) opposed IRS officer Sameer Wankhede’s plea in the Delhi High Court seeking an interim injunction on the series “The Ba**ds of Bollywood”, saying the show highlights satire and dark comedy of Bollywood culture and cannot be sued for defamation.
Mr Wankhede has demanded that the series, which he has accused of being defamatory, be removed from several websites.
Netflix said the executive should not be overly sensitive about the one-and-a-half-minute satire scene, when he himself admitted it was a satire.
Senior advocate Rajeev Nair, appearing for Netflix, told Justice Purushindra Kumar Kaurav that the threshold for defamation in such cases is very high, which cannot be proved at the negotiation stage and the plaintiff will have to prove it during the trial itself, only then will he be awarded damages.
“Merely showing that the show belongs to Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan is not enough. They have to cross the threshold of proving malice,” the lawyer argued.
He said that the theme of the series is that it exposes “the bad ways of Bollywood” and that everyone is portrayed in some aspect of parody or satire.
The lawyer said, “When the series is seen as a whole, it is a broader criticism of Bollywood. That is the theme. The theme is to expose Bollywood and its workings.”
The court listed the matter for December 2 to hear the rejoinder submissions of Mr Wankhede’s lawyer. The court also asked them to file their written arguments.
Shah Rukh Khan-owned production house Red Chillies Entertainment Pvt Ltd has also opposed Mr Wankhede’s plea, saying the suit lacks territorial jurisdiction and that the executives were involved in forum shopping.
The production house had argued that it should have been filed in Mumbai instead of Delhi as Mr Wankhede lives there and even the registered office of the company is in Mumbai.
In response to Mr Wankhede’s interim application, respondent Red Chillies Entertainment Pvt Ltd said the series was a “satire” and such portrayal is permitted in law as a legitimate form of artistic expression and social commentary.
On the content of the series, Red Chillies said that the show touches upon various controversies in the Bollywood industry, such as nepotism, paparazzi culture, adultery, and the struggles faced by newcomers, with satirical elements and parodies.
Mr Wankhede, in his response to Red Chillies, said the “defamatory content” was created to settle a personal feud with him and to avenge the arrest of Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan in the 2021 drugs case.
He said that the series written and directed by Aryan Khan was made to target and defame him.
Mr Wankhede has sued Red Chillies and Netflix for defamation and sought damages of ₹2 crore, which he wants to donate to the Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital for cancer patients.
On October 8, the High Court issued notice and summons to Red Chillies Entertainment Pvt Ltd, Netflix, X Corp (formerly Twitter), Google LLC, Meta Platforms, RPSG Lifestyle Media Pvt Ltd and John Doe in the defamation suit and asked them to file their replies within seven days.
The petition said that the series broadcasts a misleading and negative portrayal of anti-drug enforcement agencies, thereby undermining public confidence in law enforcement institutions.
The petition claims that the series depicts a character making obscene gestures – specifically, showing the middle finger – when the character chants the slogan “Satyamev Jayate”, which is part of the national emblem.
It said this act is a serious and sensitive violation of the provisions of the Prevention of Insults to National Honor Act, 1971, which attracts punitive consequences under the law.
published – November 27, 2025 06:43 PM IST