"the scene was streamed openly"
Ranbir Kapoor’s cameo in The Ba***ds of Bollywood has sparked controversy.
Directed by Aryan Khan, the show dropped on Netflix on September 18 and received rave reviews.
However, a complaint has been made for allegedly showing Ranbir using a vape onscreen without a health warning or disclaimer, violating Indian law.
In the series finale, Ranbir plays himself in a scene where Karan Johar introduces Sanya (Anya Singh), the manager of lead character Aasmaan Singh (Lakshya).
Ranbir casually strolls in and sasses Karan with a cheeky “f**k all jacket, Karan”.
In return, he gets: “Oh f**k you too.”
Moments later, Ranbir asks Sanya for a vape, a small detail that has since spiralled into a legal issue.
Vinay Joshi, of Legal Rights Observatory, filed a complaint that stated that “a well-known actor, Ranbir Kapoor, using a banned e-cigarette on screen, without any warning or disclaimer”.
The complaint added: “The complainant further alleged that the scene was streamed openly, which misled or negatively influenced young viewers by promoting the use of such banned substances.
“The complainant has sought legal action against the actors, producers and Netflix for violating Indian laws and spreading harmful content.”
Acting on the complaint, the NHRC issued notices to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, directing immediate action against such depictions.
The Mumbai Police Commissioner has reportedly been asked to probe the supply chains of e-cigarettes and submit a report within two weeks.
National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sought an Action Taken Report from the Information and Broadcasting Ministry and Mumbai Police over a complaint against Netflix’s web series ‘Ba***ds of Bollywood’. The complainant alleged actor Ranbir Kapoor was shown using a banned… pic.twitter.com/rHMn4f6hbJ
— IANS (@ians_india) September 22, 2025
The Ba***ds of Bollywood, backed by Red Chillies Entertainment, centres on Aasmaan Singh (Lakshya Lalwani), an ambitious outsider chasing stardom in a cutthroat industry.
The ensemble features Bobby Deol, Sahher Bambba, Mona Singh, Raghav Juyal, and Manish Chaudhari.
Beyond Ranbir Kapoor’s scene, the series brings in extended appearances from Karan Johar, Ranveer Singh, Siddhant Chaturvedi, Disha Patani, Orry, Shanaya Kapoor, Ibrahim Ali Khan, Rajkummar Rao, and Sara Ali Khan.
Later episodes also feature Aamir Khan, SS Rajamouli, Badshah, Emraan Hashmi, and Arshad Warsi.
But it is Ranbir Kapoor’s short yet sharp cameo that has become the flashpoint. His cheeky exchange and vape moment have ignited debates far beyond the screen, leaving fans and officials watching closely.
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