New Delhi, 27 Nov

Netflix on Thursday opposed a plea filed in the Delhi High Court by IRS officer Sameer Wankhede seeking an interim injunction on the web series ‘The Ba***ds of Bollywood’. The streaming platform argued that the show is a satire exposing Bollywood culture and cannot be restrained at the interlocutory stage in a defamation suit.

Wankhede has sought the removal of the series from various online platforms, claiming it carries defamatory content. Appearing for Netflix, senior advocate Rajiv Nayar said Wankhede should not be “oversensitive” about a 90-second satirical scene, especially when he himself acknowledges it is satire.

He submitted that the threshold for defamation in such cases is “very high” and cannot be met at this preliminary stage. Actual proof of malice, he said, can only be established during trial, at which point damages may be awarded if the plaintiff succeeds.

Nayar argued that merely stating the show is associated with Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan is insufficient to claim defamation. “He has to cross the threshold of proving malice,” he said, adding that the series broadly lampoons “the bad ways of Bollywood”, portraying several characters with elements of parody and satire.

“When viewed as a whole, it is a general lampooning of Bollywood and its workings. This is the theme,” he added.

The court has listed the matter for 2 December for Wankhede’s rejoinder submissions and has asked him to file written arguments before the next hearing.

Shah Rukh Khan-owned Red Chillies Entertainment Pvt Ltd, the production house behind the series, also opposed Wankhede’s plea. It argued that the Delhi High Court lacked territorial jurisdiction as both the company’s registered office and Wankhede’s residence are in Mumbai. The company alleged that the officer was engaging in “forum shopping”.

In its reply, Red Chillies said the series is a satire and that artistic expression, commentary, and parody are legally permissible. It said the show touches upon issues such as nepotism, paparazzi culture, adultery and the struggles of newcomers in the film industry, framing these within a satirical narrative.

Wankhede, in his rejoinder to Red Chillies, alleged that the “defamatory content” was created to settle personal scores following the arrest of Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan in a 2021 drugs case. He claimed the series, written and directed by Aryan Khan, aims to target and malign him.

The IRS officer has sought Rs 2 crore in damages from Netflix and Red Chillies, saying the compensation should be donated to the Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital.

On 8 October, the high court issued notices and summons to Red Chillies Entertainment Pvt Ltd, Netflix, X Corp, Google LLC, Meta Platforms, RPSG Lifestyle Media Pvt Ltd and certain unidentified parties (John Doe), directing them to file replies within seven days.

Wankhede’s plea further contends that the series undermines public confidence in anti-drug enforcement agencies by portraying them negatively. It also flags a scene in which a character makes an obscene gesture after reciting “Satyamev Jayate”, alleging it amounts to an insult to the National Emblem and violates the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971.