The Ba*ds of Bollywood Review: Aryan Khan’s Slick, Satirical Takedown of the Industry That Made Him**
Ashwini Gambo
The Ba*ds of Bollywood Review: Aryan Khan Roasts the Wickedly Incestuous Industry He Was Born Into**
Shah Rukh Khan’s son, Aryan Khan, was pulled into the unforgiving glare of the spotlight long before he ever got a chance to showcase any creative muscle. His controversial entanglement in a high-profile drug case became a national spectacle a trial by fire and media frenzy. Now, in his directorial debut, Aryan breaks his silence not with a press conference, but with a glossy, gutsy series that’s equal parts roast and tribute to the strange beast that is Bollywood.
The Ba*ds of Bollywood**, now streaming on Netflix, is meta, manic, and merciless a sharp satire of the very industry Aryan was born into. Who better to deliver this behind-the-curtain exposé than someone who’s grown up with a front-row seat to the circus?
From the get-go, the tone is clear: no one is safe, and everyone is in on the joke. Whether it’s Karan Johar gleefully parodying himself as a power-hungry mogul or Shah Rukh Khan popping in for a cheeky cameo, the show throws punches with a wink. The casting couch is tactfully sidestepped, but everything else nepotism, career manipulation, fake relationships, and PR-driven scandals is gleefully skewered.
Lakshya Lalwani is the surprise standout as the fiery outsider trying to crash the insider party. Saher Bambba shines as the pampered nepo kid, while Anya Singh plays Lakshya’s relentless manager with ferocious charm. Bobby Deol steals scenes as a swaggering superstar clearly modeled after Shah Rukh Khan himself equal parts heartthrob and overprotective dad.
Raghav Juyal, in a scene-stealing supporting role, brings comic timing and heart. His fanboy moment with Emraan Hashmi (playing himself, of course) is a highlight. Mona Singh and Manoj Pahwa round out a solid supporting cast that adds both gravitas and levity.
And yes, there’s a bit of Succession here, a lot of Koffee With Karan there, and a whole ton of Dynasty-level drama throughout. But what makes it pop is Aryan’s unflinching, often self-aware lens. This is a takedown laced with love the kind only an insider can execute.
Is the plot predictable? Absolutely.
Do the cameos sometimes overshadow the story? Definitely.
Is it still wildly watchable? Without a doubt.
Aryan Khan doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but he adds chrome rims and neon lights. The result is a stylish, sometimes silly, sometimes savage look at Bollywood’s underbelly served up with enough flair to keep you binging.
Watch on Netflix:
