While social media has brought Bollywood stars closer to their fans, the public’s fascination with what happens behind the scenes remains insatiable. Filmmakers like Farah Khan, Zoya Akhtar, and Karan Johar have previously capitalized on this curiosity, offering glimpses into the industry through engaging films and revealing talk shows.
Now, debutant Aryan Khan continues this tradition, pulling back the curtain to deliver an intoxicating blend of gossip, news, and juicy details. His new series offers a sharp critique of Bollywood’s “movie mafia”—a term Karan Johar himself uses to describe the industry’s powerful elite—and exposes their antics and hypocrisy.
Far from being a tribute, Aryan leverages his unique access to his father’s friends and colleagues to craft a subversive narrative. He playfully pokes fun at them, manipulates their public personas, satirizes his critics, and ultimately delivers a climactic twist worthy of Manmohan Desai. This insider’s self-awareness adds a unique depth, setting ‘Bastards of Bollywood’ apart from predecessors like ‘Tees Maar Khan,’ offering more substance than ‘Om Shanti Om,’ and more vibrant storytelling than ‘Luck By Chance.’ Indeed, as the title reveals its full meaning, the series’ true spirit emerges.
Bastards of Bollywood (Hindi)
Skillfully balancing between reality and dramatization, this seven-episode series charts the ambitious rise of Aasman Singh (Lakshya), an outsider from Delhi, as he navigates the cutthroat path to Bollywood stardom. Aryan boldly tackles themes of nepotism, exploitative producers, the underworld, compromised media, drug culture, and the transient nature of fame. While the dialogue can be raw, the underlying emotional depth and satirical wit make it profoundly relatable, revealing a subtle layer of secular values beneath its stylish surface.
Shah Rukh Khan in ‘The Bastards of Bollywood.’ | Photo Credit: Netflix
Bobby Deol truly shines as the series’ standout performer, captivating an audience less concerned with brooding acting chops and more interested in the shrewd maneuvers of industry moguls fiercely protecting their legacy.
Deol, returning to his natural element, delivers a powerful performance as Ajay Talwar, the reigning star fiercely opposed to his daughter Karishma being launched alongside an outsider. Mona Singh excels beyond the typical sweet mother role, while Manish Choudhary ensures his portrayal of the arrogant, over-the-top producer avoids caricature.
Manoj Pahwa delivers his usual dependable performance as the resilient uncle who never received his rightful recognition in the industry. The series also features cleverly integrated cameos from stars like Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, S.S. Rajamouli, Ranveer Singh, Arshad Warsi, and Shah Rukh. The dynamic score by Anirudh Ravichander and Shashwat Sachdev perfectly complements the series’ wild and exhilarating energy. It’s time to howl, Ghafoor!
‘Bastards of Bollywood’ is now available for streaming on Netflix.