Sameer Wankhede sues Netflix, Red Chillies over Aryan Khan series in Delhi HC

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Former Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) zonal director and IRS officer Sameer Wankhede has moved the Delhi High Court against Netflix and Shah Rukh Khan’s Red Chillies Entertainment over the streaming of The Ba*ds of Bollywood, a docuseries directed by Aryan Khan. Wankhede alleges the show misrepresents his actions during the 2021 drugs-on-cruise case and unfairly portrays him as a vindictive officer, thereby damaging his reputation.

In his petition, Wankhede seeks an injunction restraining Netflix and Red Chillies from releasing or distributing the series and demands Rs 2 crore in damages. He argues that the narrative is deliberately skewed, timed, and executed to malign him, especially as cases linked to Aryan Khan’s arrest remain before Mumbai courts. According to Wankhede, the series undermines not only his credibility but also risks eroding public trust in anti-narcotics enforcement agencies.

Significantly, Wankhede has stated that if damages are awarded, the sum will be donated to Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital, highlighting that his case is not financially motivated but intended to protect institutional integrity.

The dispute adds to ongoing debates over creative freedom versus personal and professional reputation. While Netflix and Red Chillies have yet to publicly respond, the matter underscores how dramatized storytelling around sensitive, unresolved cases can quickly escalate into high-stakes legal battles. It also raises questions about how platforms balance audience demand for controversial content with the rights of individuals still entangled in legal proceedings.

The Delhi High Court is expected to hear the matter soon, and its outcome may set an important precedent for the portrayal of public officials in entertainment narratives that blur fact and dramatization.