The Red Chillies Entertainment has submitted the rejoinder before the Delhi High Court defending web series ‘The Ba**ds of Bollywood’ as satire.

The legal dispute between former NCB Zonal Director Sameer Dnyandev Wankhede and Red Chillies Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. has intensified, with the production company filing a rejoinder before the Delhi High Court defending its web series “The Ba**ds of Bollywood.”* Red Chillies contends that the series is satire and a fictional critique of the film industry, denying that any character is meant to represent Wankhede.

Wankhede, in response, has accused Red Chillies of deliberate, malicious, and personalized defamation, alleging that the portrayal of the government officer in the series is directly connected to him and stems from the 2021 Cordelia Cruise drug case, which involved actor Aryan Khan, son of Red Chillies founder Shah Rukh Khan.

Red Chillies’ Key Contentions

The company, Red Chillies asserts the web series is a fictional work and its characters are not modeled on any real officers. It argues the content constitutes parody and satire, protected under the right to freedom of expression. The production house maintains that no direct reference—by name, designation, or contextual identifiers—has been made to Wankhede. It submitted that issuing an injunction would amount to unconstitutional censorship and prior restraint on creative expression.

Wankhede’s Stand: “A Vindictive Hit Job Disguised as Satire”

Wankhede says the makers have intentionally mirrored his appearance, mannerisms, statements, and media interactions, making him easily identifiable to the public.

He highlights that the character uses the expression “Satyamev Jayate”, a phrase Wankhede frequently used during press briefings. The storyline portrays a high-profile arrest of a celebrity connected to Bollywood, closely resembling Aryan Khan’s arrest. The director of the series has publicly stated that the show is inspired by real events, weakening the claim of pure fiction.

Wankhede argues that the portrayal is not satire but personal retaliation, calling it a “well-crafted revenge narrative to settle personal scores.”

Claims of Reputational Harm

The rejoinder states that since the release of the series:

Wankhede, his wife, and his sister have faced online abuse, mockery and derogatory comments.

His professional integrity, earned over decades of public service, is being systematically eroded.

The portrayal amounts to character assassination, impacting his dignity and service reputation, protected under Article 21 (Right to Reputation).

He asserts that damages cannot compensate for the ongoing harm and has sought immediate interim injunction to remove the contested scenes from all platforms.

Court Proceedings

Wankhede maintains that the Delhi High Court has jurisdiction, as a substantial part of the harm, dissemination, and publication occurred within Delhi. He contends the suit is maintainable, rejecting Red Chillies’ objections on territorial grounds.

The Court is expected to hear arguments on the request for injunction during the next listing.

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