By News Karnataka Editorial Team
Copyright newskarnataka
Mumbai: Former Mumbai zonal director of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Sameer Wankhede, on Saturday sidestepped direct questions related to his defamation case against the makers of Aryan Khan’s directorial debut series The Ba**ds of Bollywood*. Speaking at a drug awareness camp in Mumbai, Wankhede limited his response to a brief remark: “I won’t comment on all this. I’ll just say one thing: Satyamev Jayate.”
The comment, however, drew attention as the phrase features prominently in the series, where a character resembling Wankhede also utters the same dialogue. This has added to the debate over whether the show deliberately mirrors real-life individuals despite carrying a disclaimer.
Coincidence or calculated portrayal?
Aryan Khan’s series, released on Netflix, has generated wide online discussion due to an actor who bears a striking resemblance to Wankhede. Fans quickly pointed out the similarity, noting that the fictional character not only looked like the former NCB chief but also echoed his well-known phrase “Satyamev Jayate.”
The production, however, included a disclaimer stating: “Any similarity to actual persons living or dead is purely coincidental.” Despite this, viewers and critics have speculated that the resemblance is far from accidental, particularly given Wankhede’s history of high-profile cases.
Defamation case against Red Chillies and Netflix
In response, Wankhede filed a defamation suit before the Delhi High Court against Red Chillies Entertainment Pvt Ltd. — the production house owned by Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan and his wife Gauri Khan — along with Netflix and other respondents.
In his plea, Wankhede has sought a permanent and mandatory injunction, a declaration, and damages. He alleged that the series portrays anti-drug enforcement agencies in a misleading and negative manner, thereby undermining public trust in law enforcement.
He further claimed that the project was “deliberately conceptualised and executed with the intent to malign” his reputation, especially at a time when judicial proceedings involving him and Aryan Khan remain pending before the Bombay High Court and the NDPS Special Court in Mumbai.
Legal arguments before Delhi High Court
The case was recently heard by Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav at the Delhi High Court. Senior Advocate Sandeep Sethi appeared on behalf of Wankhede, while Senior Advocates Harish Salve and Mukul Rohatgi represented Netflix and Red Chillies Entertainment.
Justice Kaurav first questioned Wankhede’s counsel on the basis for filing the case in Delhi. Sethi argued that since the series was streamed across India, including Delhi, and memes targeting Wankhede circulated widely in the Capital, jurisdiction was justified.
The defence team, however, countered by pointing to the disclaimer and maintaining that creative works should not be equated with deliberate attacks on an individual’s reputation.
Broader debate on creative freedom vs accuracy
The case has reignited a long-standing debate in India over how far filmmakers and streaming platforms can go when drawing inspiration from real-life personalities. Critics argue that thinly veiled portrayals blur the line between fact and fiction, often damaging reputations in the process. Supporters of creative freedom, however, maintain that such storytelling is an essential artistic liberty and disclaimers should be sufficient.
A public poll, conducted alongside news coverage, asked whether shows inspired by real people should be careful with portrayals. While some respondents stressed accuracy and fairness, others defended creative independence as paramount.
As the legal battle unfolds, the controversy around The Ba**ds of Bollywood* highlights the challenges of balancing artistic freedom with individual rights. With heavyweights like Netflix and Red Chillies Entertainment on one side and a former top law enforcement officer on the other, the case is set to test the boundaries of defamation law in the age of streaming platforms.
