Entertainment
When Aryan Khan announced his directorial debut, curiosity was inevitable. Given the history of Bollywood, most actors have had their children being in front of the camera rather than behind it, but Aryan Khan wanted things a different way, he wanted things his way. And that is exactly the depiction of his directorial debut, his new Netflix series is messy, loud, and unapologetically self-aware—a chaotic love-hate letter to the Hindi film industry that dares to mock its own foundations. It has its moments, it has quite a few flaws but for a newcomer, it is certainly one piece of Bollywood work that is unforgettable.
The Premise
Across seven episodes, the series follows Aasmaan Singh (Lakshya), a boy from Delhi who breaks into Bollywood as an unlikely star. His rise is meteoric, but his journey is anything but easy. He is shown to be battling nepotism, celebrity scandals, PR manipulations, and industry rivalries, Aasmaan’s story mirrors the outsider’s dilemma that has long sparked debate in real-life Bollywood. Alongside him are colorful characters, some allies, some rivals, and some opportunists. The premise is what sets this series into something Bollywood has not seen in a while, or maybe in a very long time.
What Works
The greatest strength of the show lies in its boldness. Aryan Khan doesn’t shy away from touching hot topics, nepotism, entitlement, gossip culture, and the power plays that define the star system. While it does not explicitly expose anything, it implies everything in the boldest possible fashion. It leans into Bollywood’s inherent absurdity, blending satire with melodrama in a way that feels both entertaining and provocative.
The performances are another highlight. Lakshya brings energy and conviction to Aasmaan, making his struggle relatable even when the story dips into exaggeration. Raghav Juyal, with his incredible comic timing, provides some of the most memorable moments. Cameos from real Bollywood personalities add an extra layer of meta-fun, blurring the line between fiction and industry reality.
The writing is peppered with witty one-liners, self-referential humor, and inside jokes that will delight audiences familiar with industry gossip. The cameos are mostly kept to be funny than anything else and the baseline of the show is mostly humorous.
Where It Falters
The show has got all the energy, maybe even too much, but frankly, nothing to show for it. Most of the sequences are rushed and undercooked, rather than creating a 7 episode one season series that might (Most probably) get a second season, the show should have been a one season story with 10-12 episodes. The romantic subplot between Aasmaan and Karishma is definitely disappointing and undercooked, reducing an otherwise complex character arc into a half-hearted love story, and while the actors did a great job in most of their scenes, both the actors faltered with their chemistry.
Some of the technical aspects also falter. A few chase sequences and dramatic confrontations suffer from clunky editing or uneven visual effects, which pull viewers out of the otherwise immersive world. The liberal use of profanity and edgy humor may alienate more traditional audiences, though younger viewers may see this as part of the show’s raw charm.
Perhaps the biggest critique is predictability. The show has an ending that you see coming from a country mile, it does not hook over the viewer in any way and except for Bobby Deol's incredible aura and charm, there are not many reasons to watch anyone from the Talvar family on screen. For a series that prides itself on breaking norms, it occasionally slips into the very clichés it aims to parody.
Final Verdict
The Ba****ds of Bollywood is not perfect, actually far from it and simply in not so many words, incredibly overhyped, but it was never meant to be perfect. It is a bold first step for Aryan Khan, one that proves he is unafraid to poke fun at the industry he grew up in. For viewers, the series offers an intoxicating mix of satire, drama, and spectacle, even if the execution sometimes stumbles.
Rating: 3.5/5
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