Delhi HC Summons Netflix, SRK’s Red Chillies in Defamation Suit Over ‘The Ba**ds of Bollywood’

The Delhi High Court has issued summons to streaming giant Netflix, Shah Rukh Khan’s production house Red Chillies Entertainment, and several major tech companies, including Google and Meta, in response to a civil defamation suit filed by IRS officer Sameer Wankhede. The legal action centers on the recently released Netflix series, ‘The Bads of Bollywood’, which Wankhede alleges contains defamatory content that has severely damaged his reputation and public image.

The lawsuit, filed on October 8, 2025, names Red Chillies Entertainment Private Limited, Netflix, X Corp (formerly Twitter), Google LLC, Meta Platforms, RPG Lifestyle Media Private Limited, and John Doe as defendants. Wankhede, a former Zonal Director of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), claims that the series, directed by Aryan Khan and produced by Red Chillies Entertainment, deliberately portrays him in a false, malicious, and misleading light.

Core Allegations of Defamation

Wankhede’s suit details specific grievances regarding the portrayal of a character bearing a striking resemblance to him. He asserts that this character is depicted negatively, targeting and ridiculing him, and allegedly portraying him as corrupt and unethical. According to the plea, the series has been “deliberately conceptualised and executed with the intent to malign Sameer Wankhede’s reputation in a colourable and prejudicial manner”.

Furthermore, Wankhede contends that the series disseminates a misleading and negative portrayal of anti-drug enforcement agencies, thereby eroding public confidence in law enforcement institutions. A particularly contentious scene highlighted in the suit involves a character reciting the national slogan ‘Satyamev Jayate’ and immediately making an obscene gesture. Wankhede argues this constitutes a grave violation of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, and other provisions of Indian law. His legal team has also informed the court that the series has led to his family, including his wife and sister, facing online trolling, describing the posts as “shocking” and “ex facie defamatory”.

Court Proceedings and Next Steps

Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav issued summons to the defendants, requiring them to file their responses within seven days. The court has scheduled the next hearing for October 30, 2025. While Wankhede sought an interim injunction to immediately remove the alleged defamatory content and halt the series’ streaming, the court declined to grant such an order at this stage, emphasizing that due legal process must be followed. The court noted that while there might be merit in the plea, “there is a process to be followed”.

Background: The Aryan Khan Connection and Wankhede’s Career

The lawsuit brings into focus the interconnectedness of top Bollywood figures and the legal system. ‘The Bads of Bollywood’ marks the directorial debut of Aryan Khan, son of actor Shah Rukh Khan, and is produced by Gauri Khan’s Red Chillies Entertainment for Netflix. The series premiered on September 18, 2025.

Sameer Wankhede himself gained nationwide prominence in 2021 for leading the NCB’s high-profile drug bust case involving Aryan Khan. However, Wankhede’s career has also been marked by controversy, including allegations of corruption and service rule violations, particularly concerning the Aryan Khan case itself. An earlier plea by Wankhede for jurisdiction in Delhi was initially dismissed for lacking territorial grounds but was later accepted after an amended suit argued for the significant impact of the defamation within the capital.

Broader Implications for Entertainment and Law

This case touches upon critical issues for the entertainment industry, including the boundaries of creative expression, the potential for defamation in fictionalized or semi-fictionalized stories, and the responsibilities of production houses and streaming platforms. The legal battle underscores the increasing scrutiny of content that mirrors real-life personalities and events, especially when it involves ongoing legal matters. The substantial damages sought, intended for donation, highlight the gravity of the alleged reputational harm. The legal stories emerging from this intersection of Bollywood and law continue to captivate public attention, raising questions about narrative freedom and the protection of individual reputations in the digital age.