SRK’s Red Chillies Opposes Wankhede’s Plea, Says Aryan Khan’s Series Has No Link to the Cruise Raid
Shah Rukh Khan ’s production house, Red Chillies Entertainment , has mounted a strong defence in the defamation case filed by IRS officer Sameer Wankhede over its Netflix series The Bads of Bollywood*, directed by Aryan Khan . The company told the Delhi High Court that the show, while touching upon themes of overzealous authority figures, does not recreate, reference, or hint at the 2021 Cordelia cruise incident involving Aryan Khan.
“Can satire and fiction co-exist? There is no law prohibiting it," Kaul submitted. “A work may draw partial inspiration from real events or personalities and still remain a piece of fiction. Disclaimers exist precisely for this purpose. Where is the malice? This is a success story set against the backdrop of a Bollywood gathering."
Kaul added that the show’s narrative is far broader than what Wankhede suggests. “You cannot cherry-pick a stray line or a moment. The show tackles nearly 20 different issues. We do not recreate the Cordelia cruise incident. Yes, the narrative is inspired by overzealous officers but that is a far cry from claiming it’s the Cordelia story."
Doubling down, he reminded the court that satire depends on exaggeration: “Even if I portray you unjustly, that still does not automatically amount to defamation. Every scene in the series is deliberately amplified. I am not insulting him or any official emblemI am critiquing larger institutional attitudes."
The High Court will resume hearings on Thursday, when Netflix will present its side.
Wankhede’s defamation suit, filed in September, seeks permanent injunctions, damages, and declarations against Aryan Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Gauri Khan, Red Chillies Entertainment, and Netflix, claiming the series contains “false, malicious, and defamatory” content aimed at damaging his reputation.
Red Chillies Pushes Back Against Injunction Plea
On Wednesday, Red Chillies opposed Wankhede’s plea for an interim injunction to stop the streaming of the series. Senior advocate Neeraj Kishan Kaul, appearing for the production house, argued forcefully for creative freedom. He questioned the very foundation of Wankhede’s claim, insisting that satire and fiction must be allowed to coexist within storytelling.“Can satire and fiction co-exist? There is no law prohibiting it," Kaul submitted. “A work may draw partial inspiration from real events or personalities and still remain a piece of fiction. Disclaimers exist precisely for this purpose. Where is the malice? This is a success story set against the backdrop of a Bollywood gathering."
Kaul added that the show’s narrative is far broader than what Wankhede suggests. “You cannot cherry-pick a stray line or a moment. The show tackles nearly 20 different issues. We do not recreate the Cordelia cruise incident. Yes, the narrative is inspired by overzealous officers but that is a far cry from claiming it’s the Cordelia story."
The Cordelia Case Context
The Cordelia cruise incident remains one of the most widely discussed controversies of 2021. Aryan Khan was arrested during a raid led by Wankhede’s NCB team and spent over three weeks in jail before being given a clean chit. This background continues to fuel public speculation around the Netflix show, despite Red Chillies’ insistence that the storyline is fictional.Kaul Calls Out Wankhede’s Public Persona
Kaul also questioned Wankhede’s stance given his active engagement with the media.“You cannot muzzle creators from portraying overzealous officials simply because a public servant finds it unflattering," Kaul argued. “What others may say outside my control cannot be pinned on me. I am entitled to explore Bollywood’s underbelly. A public official cannot afford to be thin-skinned."Doubling down, he reminded the court that satire depends on exaggeration: “Even if I portray you unjustly, that still does not automatically amount to defamation. Every scene in the series is deliberately amplified. I am not insulting him or any official emblemI am critiquing larger institutional attitudes."
Case Continues
The High Court will resume hearings on Thursday, when Netflix will present its side.
Wankhede’s defamation suit, filed in September, seeks permanent injunctions, damages, and declarations against Aryan Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Gauri Khan, Red Chillies Entertainment, and Netflix, claiming the series contains “false, malicious, and defamatory” content aimed at damaging his reputation.
Next Story