The Bads of Bollywood: Aryan Khan’s Netflix Directorial Debut

Netflix turned up the heat on September 18, 2025, with the global release of The Bads of Bollywood, a seven-episode dramedy that marks Aryan Khan’s long-awaited directorial debut. Produced by Red Chillies Entertainment, the series invites viewers into a high-octane world of Hindi cinema—where glamour, ambition, and scandal collide. The big question: does Shah Rukh Khan’s son deliver a knockout, or is this just another celebrity vanity project?

A Story of Ambition and Chaos in Tinseltown

At the heart of The Bads of Bollywood is Aasman Singh (played by Lakshya), a small-town dreamer who lands a coveted lead role in a mega Bollywood production. What begins as a fairytale rise quickly turns into a nightmare filled with ego clashes, forbidden romances, and career-crushing betrayals.

Aasman’s biggest obstacle is Ajay Talwar (Bobby Deol), a powerful superstar and producer whose daughter, Karishma (Sahher Bambba), becomes Aasman’s love interest. Their relationship sparks a dangerous love triangle that threatens reputations and careers.

Co-created by Aryan Khan with writers Bilal Siddiqi and Manav Chauhan, the show layers romance, action, and biting satire. It fearlessly skewers Bollywood’s nepotism, publicity stunts, and secret scandals. A clever subplot even references Aryan’s own 2021 NCB drug-case ordeal through a cop’s tongue-in-cheek line about arrests making stars “even more famous.” Award ceremonies, PR disasters, and staged controversies are roasted with equal parts humor and affection, creating a series that doubles as both a love letter and a critique of Indian cinema.

Star Cast and Eye-Popping Cameos

The ensemble cast delivers standout performances.

Lakshya, fresh from his breakout in Kill (2024), shines as the ambitious outsider, balancing charm with vulnerability.
Bobby Deol channels the ruthless magnetism of his Animal (2023) role, making Ajay Talwar both intimidating and strangely likable.
Sahher Bambba brings grace and fire to Karishma, though her arc sometimes feels underwritten.
Raghav Juyal provides much-needed comic relief as Aasman’s witty best friend, while veterans like Mona Singh, Manoj Pahwa, Manish Chaudhari, and Gautami Kapoor lend authenticity as industry insiders.

But it’s the cameos that spark the most buzz. Shah Rukh Khan opens the series with a moving voiceover about dreams and destiny, setting an emotional tone. Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, Ranveer Singh, Karan Johar, SS Rajamouli, Badshah, Arjun Kapoor, and Disha Patani all pop up in self-aware appearances that blur the line between fiction and reality. Rather than feeling gimmicky, these moments amplify the satire, making the show a Bollywood reunion of epic proportions.

Direction and Production: Aryan Khan Steps Out of SRK’s Shadow

For a first-time director, Aryan Khan shows striking confidence. His pacing is sharp, his visual style slick, and his tonal balance surprisingly mature. The series moves effortlessly from laugh-out-loud comedy to tense drama, proving Aryan’s storytelling skills extend beyond the Khan name.

Red Chillies Entertainment delivers trademark production polish—lavish sets, vibrant cinematography, and pulsating music that enhance the larger-than-life Bollywood vibe. High-energy party scenes, stylized action sequences, and meta award-show spoofs give the show a cinematic scale rarely seen in Indian web series.

Social media erupted within hours of the noon release, with fans calling the debut “mind-blowing” and praising the SRK voiceover as a goosebump moment. Celebrities including Vijay Varma, Akshay Kumar, and Kajol hailed Aryan’s arrival as a director to watch.

Strengths: Wit, Energy, and Insider Edge

One of the show’s biggest strengths is its self-aware humor. From exaggerated fight scenes to sly digs at viral scandals, Aryan cleverly lampoons the clichés that make Bollywood both ridiculous and irresistible. Episodes two and six stand out for their tense confrontations and surprising twists, showcasing Aryan’s knack for keeping viewers hooked.

The dialogue sparkles with sharp one-liners, while the soundtrack mixes high-energy club beats with nostalgic Bollywood melodies. Combined with Lakshya’s earnest performance and Bobby Deol’s magnetic villainy, the result is an addictive mix of satire and spectacle.

Weak Spots: Familiar Tropes and Uneven Pacing

Despite its fresh direction, The Bads of Bollywood occasionally falls back on familiar territory. The outsider-makes-it plot echoes countless Bollywood dramas, and some mid-season episodes (especially three through five) suffer from cameo overload that disrupts the narrative flow.

Female characters, including Karishma, deserve deeper exploration. Their presence often serves as a catalyst for male conflict rather than independent storylines, creating an ironic contrast to the show’s critique of industry sexism.

Critics also note that while the satire bites, it sometimes pulls punches—possibly to avoid alienating industry insiders. Early IMDb scores hover around 2.5/5, with some viewers calling it “glossy but shallow.”

Verdict: A Daring Debut Worth the Hype

Even with its flaws, The Bads of Bollywood is an exciting and highly entertaining debut for Aryan Khan. Packed with energy, clever writing, and unforgettable cameos, the series earns a solid 3.5/5 for its bold vision and blockbuster presentation.

For Bollywood fans, it’s a must-watch glimpse into the industry’s glamorous highs and messy lows. For skeptics, it’s proof that Aryan Khan is more than just his famous surname—he’s a filmmaker with style, humor, and a promising future.

Stream it now on Netflix and decide for yourself whether Aryan’s fiery first outing is the beginning of a brilliant directorial journey.