Sameer Wankhede, the former Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Mumbai zonal director, has filed a defamation suit in the Delhi High Court against Red Chillies Entertainment, the production company owned by Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri Khan, along with Netflix and other associated parties. The suit concerns the portrayal of Wankhede in Aryan Khan's directorial debut series, "The Ba***ds of Bollywood," which Wankhede claims has damaged his reputation.

Wankhede is seeking a permanent and mandatory injunction, a declaration, and damages amounting to ₹2 crore. He intends to donate the damages to the Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital for cancer treatment.

Wankhede's petition states that "The Ba***ds of Bollywood" presents a misleading and negative portrayal of anti-drug enforcement agencies, which could erode public confidence in law enforcement institutions. He argues that the series was deliberately conceptualized and executed to malign his reputation in a prejudicial manner, especially while cases involving him and Aryan Khan are still before the Bombay High Court and the NDPS Special Court in Mumbai. Wankhede contends that the portrayal unfairly targets him while judicial scrutiny is ongoing.

The suit also points to a sequence in the show where a character makes an obscene gesture after reciting Satyamev Jayate. Wankhede argues this is a grave violation of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, attracting penal consequences. He further claims the content contravenes provisions of the Information Technology Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) by seeking to outrage national sentiment through obscene and offensive material.

Social media users have also noted the resemblance of a character in the series to Sameer Wankhede. The character, introduced in the first episode, is a stern officer who declares a war against drugs in Bollywood.

"The Ba***ds of Bollywood," directed by Aryan Khan, is a satirical take on the Hindi film industry. The series features a cast including Lakshya, Sahher Bambba, Bobby Deol, and Raghav Juyal, and includes cameos by numerous Bollywood actors and filmmakers. The show premiered on Netflix on September 18, 2025, and quickly gained popularity.