Very rarely does a movie or series evoke both laughter and shock simultaneously. It is also rare for a nepo baby to emerge as a shooting star in his or her debut. The series B***ds of Bollywood is one such exception. However, I also carry the weight of prejudice as the series is directed by Aryan Khan, my most beloved Shahrukh Khan’s son. This is extended love. The legacy prevails, which is a blessing and a curse for the debut director, Aryan. What the scion of Shahrukh Khan had to go through in a controversial drugs case also led to a sympathetic inclination towards his first creation. The drugs case also makes a meta-inclusion in the series.
Ba***ds of Bollywood is about an outsider, Aasman Singh, played by Lakshya Lalwani, who navigates through the dirty inner workings of Bollywood. Aryan Khan, being a part of the industry and being the son of the Hindi cinema superstar, is in the best position to depict them, and he does a great job at it, to a silly light-hearted extent. The series doesn’t take itself seriously. This adds to the strength of this artistic endeavour.
The side characters are the silver lining to the narrative of the series, such as Aasman’s lady love, where their love story gets a dramatic end, his manager played by the very reliable Anya Singh, his father and mother, and most starkly his best buddy Pervaiz played by the remarkable Raghav Juyal. Some cameos would be a brownie point to Bollywood enthusiasts and cine-goers.
he chemistry between Aasman and Pervaiz stands out, and the credit goes to the acting prowess of Pervaiz, aka Raghav. It’s sweet yet amusing to see the two play out their characters impeccably. But one must also give a round of applause to the protagonist, Lakshya (Aasman), for not being intimidated by carrying the weight of the main character energy throughout the course of the series.
Hence, the characters are layered, well-fleshed out, and their acting is top-notch. All adding to the entertainment the series provides to the audience. Even the cinematography is top-notch, the screenplay fast-paced and crisp; the storyline, while being hiccupy, unsettles you in a good way.
The dialogues are basically filmy punchlines, but also witty. They’re simple but impactful. They follow the ethos of the series. It’s safe to say that the series doesn’t have a single ‘meh’ moment.
It is important to mention the nepotism debate here, as the series depicts the struggles of an outsider to the industry. The politics within. How a newcomer has to maneuver through the politics present in Bollywood. The interesting bit is that the cushioned nepo baby makes a series about nepotism and the wretchedness of Hindi cinema. This is a welcome sign and shows how selfaware Aryan Khan is. There is a meta roundtable interview scene that makes you laugh, but also say, ‘oh, that’s spot on’ simultaneously. That’s the self-awareness that one talks about.
Going to the drawbacks of the movie. The part played by Bobby Deol, displayed as the angsty yet adoring father of the lady love in the series, is not well-etched out. It is straightforward and there is no explanation given for his actions. This is just a monolithic portrayal. The character had the potential of being meaty. The action scenes were also a big bore and didn’t go with the mood of the series. Moreover, the gangster plot in the series was extremely unnecessary, but an exposé of the Bollywood mafia and political undercurrents.
One has to mention that the emotional heft of the series keeps it rolling throughout. If it were not for it, the series could have faltered. There is a particular funeral scene that tugs at your heart and is powerful to the tee.
To conclude, one gives a thumbs up to the series. It may be provocative and unleash mixed feelings but it keeps you hooked. This is an ode to Bollywood and is critical of its inner machinations. One has to appreciate that while Aryan Khan also had ample resources at his disposal, he used them effectively. The meta-universe that he created was only possible because he made it as an insider. An outsider perspective could have bordered on cynicism and perhaps a tad bit bitter. One would recommend it to all as a feel-good sequence, but especially to those obsessed with Bollywood and how it operates.
The writer is our Editor-in-Chief.
