Former Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) zonal officer Sameer Wankhede has filed a defamation suit seeking ₹2 crore in damages against Red Chillies Entertainment and Netflix. The lawsuit targets the Netflix series ‘The Ba***ds of Bollywood,’ alleging that a character in the show unfairly portrays him.
During a recent podcast interview with Awaara Musafir, Wankhede was asked about the series. However, he opted to sidestep the question, emphasizing his desire to focus on serious topics rather than engage in what he perceived as a lighthearted discussion. “I have seen your podcast and it was dealing with serious topics. So I would request that let us talk about something serious and sensible. I am not in the mood to joke,” he stated.
When pressed further about a specific scene where a character says, ‘say no to drugs,’ followed by a card crediting Aryan Khan as the director, Wankhede expressed his disinterest in commenting on such matters. He contrasted this by saying, “Who are they? You ask me about someone like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj or BR Ambedkar. I don’t think so that I need to give them even one second worth of comments.”
The controversy stems from Wankhede’s suit filed in the Delhi High Court, where he claims the series has damaged his reputation. He specifically sought permanent and mandatory injunctions, along with damages, against Red Chillies Entertainment Private Limited, Netflix, and others involved in the production and broadcast. The Delhi High Court, however, found the plaint not maintainable and rejected it, stating that a stronger case would be needed if the defamation occurred across multiple locations, with Delhi being a primary site of damage.