Red Chillies calls Sameer Wankhede’s defamation suit “baseless”; says web series is“fictional satire, not personal attack”

Shah Rukh Khan’s production house, Red Chillies Entertainment, has strongly opposed the defamation case filed by former Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) officer Sameer Wankhede, calling it “misconceived and baseless.” The company told the Bombay High Court that its upcoming web series The Ba ds of Bollywood is a “work of situational satire” and not intended to defame or target any individual.

The controversy began after Wankhede claimed that The Bull was inspired by his role in the 2021 drugs-on-cruise case involving actor Aryan Khan, Shah Rukh Khan’s son. He alleged that the series portrayed him negatively and damaged his reputation.

In its legal response, Red Chillies Entertainment said the story is entirely fictional and should be viewed as creative expression, not a factual account of real-life events. The production house argued that no character in the show is based on Wankhede and that the allegations of defamation have no legal basis.

Red Chillies also emphasized that satire and dramatization are common storytelling tools in entertainment, protected under freedom of expression. “The series is a work of art intended for public viewing and not meant to insult or harm any person’s image,” the company stated.

Sameer Wankhede, a former Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer, gained national attention as the NCB’s Mumbai Zonal Director during the 2021 drug case linked to Bollywood celebrities. He was later accused by the CBI of alleged bribery and misuse of power, though he denied all charges, maintaining that he had only acted according to the law.

The Bombay High Court is expected to hear the matter further in the coming days.