Sameer Wankhede Sues SRK, Aryan Over Netflix Show: Says He’s Being Mocked

Former NCB Officer Alleges Defamation in Aryan Khan’s Netflix Series, Seeks ₹2 Crore Compensation

September 25, 2025: In a dramatic turn of events, former Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede has filed a defamation suit against Aryan Khan and his production company, Red Chillies Entertainment, over the Netflix series “The Ba***ds of Bollywood.” The lawsuit, filed in the Delhi High Court on Thursday, alleges that Wankhede has been portrayed in a “false, malicious, and defamatory” manner in the show.

Wankhede, who led the investigation that resulted in Aryan Khan’s arrest in a high-profile drugs case in 2021, is seeking a permanent and mandatory injunction against the show, which was released on September 18. He has also demanded ₹2 crore in damages, which he has pledged to donate to the Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital for the treatment of cancer patients.

Allegations of Defamatory Portrayal and Mockery

The defamation suit claims that a particular scene in the series “mocks” him and is intended to damage his reputation. According to the plea, the show presents a negative portrayal of “anti-drug enforcement agencies” and could “erode public confidence in law enforcement institutions.”

A key point of contention in the lawsuit is a scene where a character, who social media users have noted bears a striking resemblance to Wankhede, makes an obscene gesture—showing a middle finger—after reciting the slogan “Satyamev Jayate.” This has been described in the lawsuit as a “grave and sensitive violation of the provisions of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971.”

The character in the show is introduced as a stern, loud officer from an agency called “NCG” who arrives at a party in a police jeep and goes on a rant about a “war against drugs.” He is dressed in a white shirt and dark pants, and has a lean physique and short hair, which has led many to believe the character is a direct dig at Wankhede.

The Context: The 2021 Cruise Drugs Case

The defamation suit revives the high-profile 2021 case in which Aryan Khan was arrested by Wankhede’s team during a raid on a cruise ship off the Mumbai coast. After spending over three weeks in jail, Aryan was eventually granted a clean chit by the NCB due to a lack of sufficient evidence. Wankhede was later removed from the case, and an internal vigilance inquiry was initiated against him based on allegations of impropriety and extortion. The legal proceedings related to the bribery allegations are still ongoing, which Wankhede’s suit points out as a reason why the show’s portrayal is “prejudicial and irresponsible.”

“The Ba***ds of Bollywood,” which marks Aryan Khan’s directorial debut, has already generated significant buzz since its release on Netflix. The show, which also features cameos from major Bollywood stars like Shah Rukh Khan and Ranbir Kapoor, has amassed 2.8 million views in its first week and is ranked number 4 among all non-English language shows on the platform. The lawsuit adds another layer of controversy to the series, which is produced by Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri Khan under their banner, Red Chillies Entertainment.