Delhi High Court Judge Reviews 'Ba***ds of Bollywood' in Sameer Wankhede Defamation Case Against Netflix

The lawyer emphasized that Sameer Wankhede has been a respected IRS officer for the past 17 years.

New Delhi:

A Delhi High Court judge today viewed scenes from the Netflix series 'Ba***ds of Bollywood' that IRS officer Sameer Wankhede has objected to. Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav watched the episode at the request of Wankhede's lawyer, who emphasized that the series "ridicules" his client.

Wankhede has filed a defamation suit seeking removal of the series, arguing that it is not fictional but rather a "personal vendetta disguised as satire" intended to damage his reputation following the 2021 Cordelia Cruise drug case involving Shah Rukh Khan's son. The former Narcotics Control Bureau Mumbai Zonal Director claims that a government officer character in the series was deliberately modeled after him with a portrayal that goes "beyond satire."

"In one of the episodes, the character resembles my client. His portrayal is beyond satire. It is shown that he goes after Bollywood celebrities and their children. The person chosen to play the character, his physical appearance and words were replicated," said J Sai Deepak, representing Wankhede.

"(In the episode) A person is smoking a joint. He states, 'I am not from Bollywood; he is from Bollywood.' So the character goes after him. It shows I'm driven by hunger for publicity," he added.

The lawyer stated that the producer targeted a public servant due to prior history between the parties. The series was produced by Red Chillies Entertainment Pvt Ltd, owned by Shah Rukh Khan and his wife Gauri Khan.

"This clip was unnecessary to the flow of content, and the reason is that there was prior animus, exposing me and my family to threat," he said.

After viewing the clip, Justice Kaurav remarked, "I don't think they are acknowledging that this character is Sameer Wankhede."

"Can you put the faces side by side on the resemblance?" the court inquired.

The lawyer responded that they have "placed on record enough literature to show there was innuendo," declaring, "This is vendetta passing off as fiction."

Previously, Red Chillies Entertainment informed the court that Wankhede had no grounds for seeking an interim injunction as the series is satirical work.

"Nowhere in the impugned clip or in the said series is the plaintiff (Wankhede) named, and the series carries a disclaimer clarifying that it is a work of fiction," they stated.

Wankhede's lawyer contended that the makers were hiding behind a disclaimer.

"The disclaimer is of no consequence. The proof of pudding is how people consume it. If they wanted to show how he (the protagonist of the show) lands the role, they could have shown the arrest, but the specific inter-loop is that my client is shown to be ridiculed."

The lawyer also emphasized that the "defence of satire is not absolute in the case."

"You have exposed my department and my family. You have taken potshots at me in my professional capacity," Wankhede's lawyer told the court.

Justice Kaurav then asked the production house to explain whether they could portray Wankhede in such a manner under the guise of artistic freedom.

"What is the procedure followed and what happens when, in this case, the problem is that you are depicting me, so you either frankly say it was Wankhede, but under the guise of artistic freedom, you cannot depict," the judge said.

Lawyer Neeraj Kishan Kaul, representing Red Chillies, said he would address the query.

The next hearing is scheduled for November 17.

Red Chillies previously claimed that the content constitutes artistic speech and satire protected under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution of India and that any prior restraint or post facto censorship of such expression can only be justified under Article 19(2).

Regarding the series content, Red Chillies stated that the show addresses various Bollywood industry controversies, such as nepotism, paparazzi culture, adultery, and newcomers' struggles with satirical elements and parody.

"It is also submitted that even prior to the release of 'Ba***ds of Bollywood', the plaintiff was already the subject of public ridicule and adverse commentary," their reply noted. The firm stated it was clear that the officer's reputation was not unblemished and he had come to court with "unclean hands." They added that as a "public official," he should not be overly sensitive.

Deepak, insisting this was a defamation case, reiterated that Sameer Wankhede has been a respected IRS officer for 17 years.

Wankhede has sued Red Chillies and Netflix for defamation, seeking Rs 2 crore in damages, which he intends to donate to the Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital for cancer patients.