Viveck Vaswani Slams Aryan Khan’s The Ba***ds of Bollywood

Aryan Khan’s debut Netflix series The Ba***ds of Bollywood has ignited a sharp debate within the film industry and online. While the show has garnered attention for its gritty depiction of the Hindi film industry, it has also drawn strong criticism from filmmaker and producer Viveck Vaswani, who has longstanding ties with Shah Rukh Khan dating back to his early years in Mumbai.

Speaking in an interview, Vaswani questioned both the tone of the series and its portrayal of Bollywood as a largely toxic ecosystem.

“Shah Rukh Was Treated Like a King”

Recalling Shah Rukh Khan’s early days, Vaswani strongly objected to the narrative implied in the show.

“Shah Rukh was treated like a king in my house… we used to eat dinner together, watch films together, and often go on sets together,” he said.

He further highlighted the support Khan received from industry figures, adding:

“Aziz Mirza gave him a place to stay… Saeed Mirza, Renu Saluja, and everyone associated with Circus as well as Karan Johar’s father Yash Johar, and Aditya Chopra’s father Yash Chopra… all of them treated him like a king.”

Vaswani concluded with a pointed remark:

“He came into the industry with a golden spoon. So why does he think it’s a bad industry?”

Objection to ‘Extreme’ Depictions

Vaswani also criticised specific scenes in the series that depict alleged abuse within the industry.

“You are showing a woman being kicked to the ground by a director. I have never seen anything like this in the industry. I have not encountered such evil people here,” he said.

Dismissing the idea of a deeply toxic environment, he added:

“Whatever dirt or supposed ‘evil side’ of Bollywood people talk about, I have never seen it. Even Shah Rukh, who lived with me, never saw it.”

“Why Paint Everyone Black?”

While acknowledging that the show may draw from second-hand accounts, Vaswani argued that it lacks balance.

“Why paint everyone black? There are decent people in the industry,” he said.

He suggested that even while exploring darker themes, the narrative should include positive figures:

“Let there be a Yash Chopra… let there be a Yash Johar… let there be good people too.”

Other Criticism Around Language and Tone

Actor Alyy Khan also expressed reservations about the show’s execution. Reflecting on its content, he noted:

“You cannot watch it with family because the language is so unusual… Sometimes it feels like such decisions are made just for eyeballs.”

He added that excessive use of expletives reduces impact:

“If every sentence has it, it becomes cringe-worthy and boring.”

Vaswani on Industry Culture and Discipline

In separate remarks, Vaswani also spoke about his working experiences in Bollywood, including his decision not to collaborate again with Salman Khan after *Patthar Ke Phool*.

He emphasised the importance of discipline on film sets:

“I cannot work where there is liquor… where people work with indiscipline.”

However, he clarified that he would consider working with Salman again under certain filmmakers:

“If I get the Salman who works with Sooraj Barjatya, I would do it… they need Salman the actor, not Salman the star.”

Vaswani also underscored the importance of respecting creative hierarchies, recalling the influence of writer Salim Khan during earlier projects.