Aryan Khan’s series The Ba**ds of Bollywood* has landed in legal controversy after the NHRC asked the I&B Ministry and Mumbai Police for an Action Taken Report. The complaint, filed by Vinay Joshi, points to Ranbir Kapoor’s cameo where he is seen using a banned e-cigarette without mandatory warnings, which could mislead or influence young audiences and promote unlawful behavior.
Aryan Khan’s directorial debut The Ba**ds of Bollywood* is making big headlines these days. The star kid has managed to bring together around 21 celebrity cameos in the show. Among them is Ranbir Kapoor, who appears as himself. He is seen in the final episode, sharing a short scene with Karan Johar (playing himself) and Anya Singh. While Ranbir’s fans appreciated his presence and screen charisma, the cameo has now landed in controversy and sparked debates.
During a scene featuring Karan Johar and Anya Singh, Ranbir Kapoor is shown asking for a vape and taking a drag. This particular sequence has triggered controversy, with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) directing the Mumbai Police to register a case against the actor, the show’s producers, and Netflix. The reason: promotion of e-cigarettes is prohibited under the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2019. Moreover, the scene did not carry any statutory health warning or disclaimer such as “smoking is injurious to health.”
The complaint was filed by social activist Vinay Joshi, who alleged that the actor was shown using an e-cigarette without warnings, which could influence impressionable viewers and normalize banned substances. He further claimed that the show is spreading irresponsible content that undermines public health and law enforcement, while also glorifying an illegal product. Acting on the complaint, the NHRC has written to the Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, urging appropriate action to prevent such content from being promoted.
Aryan Khan’s directorial debut, The Ba***ds of Bollywood
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has addressed a letter to the Mumbai Police Commissioner, urging the police to register an FIR against actor Ranbir Kapoor, the show’s creator Aryan Khan, and the OTT platform Netflix. According to reports, the Commissioner has also been directed to investigate the supply chains of e-cigarettes and submit a detailed report within two weeks. The action comes in response to a controversial scene where Ranbir Kapoor is shown using an e-cigarette, which violates the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2019.
The Ba**ds of Bollywood* is a satirical action comedy based on the glamorous yet gritty world of the Hindi film industry. The story revolves around Aasmaan Singh, who dreams of making it big in Bollywood. However, his journey is far from easy as he encounters the so-called “movie mafia,” gangsters, and several unexpected challenges along the way. The show has been grabbing attention for its unique blend of satire, drama, and dark humour.
The series features an ensemble cast including Lakshya, Sahher Bambba, Bobby Deol, Raghav Juyal, Anya Singh, Mona Singh, Manoj Pahwa, Gautami Kapoor, Rajat Bedi, Manish Chaudhari, and Vijayant Kohli. Alongside Ranbir Kapoor’s cameo, the show also includes appearances by several major celebrities such as S.S. Rajamouli, Ranveer Singh, Disha Patani, Shanaya Kapoor, Emraan Hashmi, Siddhant Chaturvedi, Rajkummar Rao, Arjun Kapoor, Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, and Shah Rukh Khan, further boosting its star power.
Ranbir Kapoor’s cameo scene explained
The seven-part series features several Bollywood stars in cameo roles. Ranbir Kapoor appears in one such episode, where his character is seen vaping after a conversation with Anya Singh’s character, who aspires to become his manager and proposes her services. The complaint points out that the scene lacked a statutory warning or disclaimer, which could mislead young audiences and indirectly promote illegal activity.