Aryan Khan’s directorial debut, The Ba**ds of Bollywood, is a bold, satirical look at the Hindi film industry’s glamorous yet messy underbelly. Now streaming on Netflix, the series has gained attention for its unapologetic take on Bollywood’s inner politics and hypocrisies.
Plot & Themes
The story follows Aasmaan Singh (played by Lakshya), an outsider who rises to stardom with his debut film Revolver. Through his journey, the series uncovers the industry’s superficiality, nepotism, and the hurdles faced by newcomers, all presented with a meta-fictional twist that blurs the lines between reel and real.
The highlight of the show?
Undoubtedly, the plot twist is the beating heart of this web series!"
Performances
Lakshya delivers the most convincing act as the ambitious newcomer Aasmaan — carrying the weight of the show with confidence.Seeing Raghav Juyal’s potential, it seemed he would devour Lakshya… but, tsk tsk! 😏
Bobby Deol once again proves his versatility, giving depth to a complex character. My God, the sheer intensity with which he chases the protagonists just to stop them from falling in love!
Mona Singh is rock solid in her performance, leaving a lasting impact.
Manoj Pahwa surprises in a quirky avatar, bringing immense charm and much-needed comic relief to the screen. His effortless performance is an absolute highlight, injecting a vibrant energy into the narrative every time he appears. In fact, Pahwa’s brilliance is so commanding that he comfortably steals the spotlight, raising the bar for the rest of the ensemble.
On the flip side, Raghav Juyal—who enters this project as a highly anticipated star cast member—proves to be a bit of a letdown. Having witnessed his phenomenal potential in Kill (where Lakshya also starred), audience expectations for him were sky-high. Unfortunately, watching his performance gives the distinct feeling that his character and comic timing were forcefully crammed into every scene. Ultimately, Raghav’s role feels underwhelming and severely underutilised—almost like he was serving as a mere stand-in for Bharti Singh rather than showcasing his own unique star power.One can't help but feel for the poor guy—what else could he do? After all, nobody says no to the Badshah's son.
Writing & Direction
Aryan Khan makes a fair and competent debut as both director and writer. He maintains a steady pace, balancing drama with satire, and keeps the narrative engaging throughout. While not revolutionary, his work feels honest and polished. As a writer, he succeeds in keeping the plot compelling and the story hooked.
Everyone, including me, thought that Bobby Deol was stopping Aasmaan only because he didn’t want a newcomer like him to be launched in a KJO film opposite his daughter. But poor Bobby Deol was actually preventing a brother and sister from getting into a romantic relationship. Otherwise toh...
Though I also felt it was somewhat reminiscent of Om Shanti Om, what I didn’t like was the truth about the main protagonist. Earlier, they were dating, and suddenly, they are revealed to be brother and sister… Haye, bichare! Chalo.. At least, a bigger crime was avoided.
The Ba**ds of Bollywood also marks Khan’s successful debut as showrunner, writer, and director. The series was co-written with Bilal Siddiqi and Manav Chauhan, and produced by Gauri Khan under Red Chillies Entertainment.
Reception
IMDb users gave the film a 7.7 rating and described it as “filmy, fun, and engaging,” praising its glamour and production values.
Rotten Tomatoes reviews remain mixed, with some calling it vulgar while others find it chaotically entertaining.
The Indian Express gave it a 2.5/5, noting its tendency to fall into clichés.
In my view, if a series keeps you hooked even once, from start to finish, it has already achieved success—making a 2.5 rating feel unfair.
Verdict
All the actors delivered commendable performances in this series. Lakshya, Bobby Deol, Mona Singh, and Manoj Pahwa shine with impressive work, while the characters of Raghav Juyal and Arshad Warsi fall short of expectations. Initially, I was a bit concerned that the director, being inexperienced, might not do justice to the story—but Aryan Khan managed a fair and competent job. At no point did any character feel overacted, unlike what is often seen in debut films of contemporary nepotistic actors like Janhvi Kapoor or Ananya Panday (though they have grown significantly since their debuts).
The script kept me hooked until the very end, and I never felt bored. Based on this, I would confidently rate the web series 3.5/5. Aryan Khan’s direction may not be groundbreaking, but it is fair, competent, and promising for a debut. Finally, The Ba**ds of Bollywood is neither a ‘much ado about nothing,’ nor a tale of ‘hard work paying off brilliantly’—but it’s definitely watchable!
#goodluckAryanKhan
The story pauses here… until we turn the next page together.
— Anu
Spill. Stir. Stay tuned As Not all drama belongs in court.
The story pauses here… until we turn the next page together.
— Anu
Spill. Stir. Stay tuned As Not all drama belongs in court.
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