Aryan Khan’s directorial debut, _The Ba*ds of Bollywood_**, which premiered on September 18, has been making headlines not only for its star-studded cameos but also for a legal row. The series, produced by Red Chillies Entertainment, features 21 celebrity appearances, with Ranbir Kapoor’s short but striking cameo in the seventh episode now at the center of debate.
Ranbir’s Scene with Karan Johar
In the episode, Ranbir Kapoor plays himself in a tongue-in-cheek exchange with filmmaker Karan Johar, who introduces Anya Singh’s character as Ranbir’s potential manager. Ranbir casually teases Johar, saying, “F**k all jacket, Karan,” to which Johar cheekily replies, “Oh, f**k you too.” The moment that raised eyebrows, however, was Ranbir asking Singh’s character for a vape — a detail that has triggered a formal complaint.
NHRC Notice and Legal Action
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed the Mumbai Police to register a case against Ranbir Kapoor, the show’s producers, and Netflix, alleging violation of the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2019. The complaint, filed by activist Vinay Joshi, argues that showing an e-cigarette without a statutory warning promotes a banned product, potentially influencing young audiences and normalising illegal substances.
The petition also accuses the series of spreading content that undermines both public health and law enforcement, while glorifying e-cigarettes. Taking cognisance, the NHRC has issued notices to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and asked the Mumbai Police Commissioner to investigate supply networks of e-cigarettes, with a report due within two weeks.
The Series
At its core, The Ba***ds of Bollywood follows Aasmaan Singh (Lakshya Lalwani), an outsider determined to make it big in the film industry. The narrative sheds light on the glitter, struggle, and cutthroat competition within Bollywood — now overshadowed by the controversy over Ranbir’s cameo.
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