Its message and heart score on a high level.
The Ba***ds of Bollywood marks the directorial debut of Shah Rukh Khan’s eldest son, Aryan Khan.
As the creator and writer of the series, Aryan tells a story of the harsh realities of Bollywood, weaving original characters into the narrative.
These characters find themselves pushed into the glitz and glamour of the Hindi film industry.
They must face the bitter truths of nepotism, film politics, and the underworld.
Ultimately, a shocking revelation threatens to shatter their lives.
The series was released on Netflix on Thursday, September 18, 2025 and comprises seven episodes.
Each instalment has an average runtime of 40 minutes.
Boasting a transparent plot, compelling performances, and engrossing cameos from Bollywood heavyweights, Aryan Khan’s series has some impressive ingredients.
However, are these enough for you to invest over 200 minutes of your time?
DESIblitz is here to help you decide whether to watch The Ba***ds of Bollywood or not.
A Captivating Storyline
For many decades, thousands of people, with no prior links to Bollywood, have arrived in Mumbai, India, to try their luck as actors in the industry.
Meanwhile, other young acting aspirants obtain an easy break into movies due to their family connections.
Some are even launched by their own parents. This practice is known as nepotism.
Over the years, debates surrounding nepotism have become more prevalent, with many declaring that star kids have an unfair advantage.
On the other hand, others argue that, unlike outsiders, actors who debut via nepotism have more baggage and expectations.
The Ba***ds of Bollywood explores this contrast through a captivating storyline where we are introduced to Aasmaan Singh (Lakshya Lalwani) and Karishma Talwar (Sahher Bambba).
Aasmaan is an aspiring actor with no connection to Bollywood, while Karishma is the daughter of the film superstar, Ajay Talwar (Bobby Deol).
They are excited to receive their first big breaks. Aasmaan gets a chance from the producer, Freddy Sodawallah (Manish Chaudhari).
After clashing on a roundtable interview, Aasmaan and Karishma warm up to each other and get cast opposite each other in another film by none other than Karan Johar, who appears in the show as himself.
Throughout the series, Aryan captures the essence of the industry with a poignant honesty, highlighting that things in filmdom are not always a bed of roses.
Karishma and Aasmaan deal with brutal mind games, arrogant colleagues, and the media’s unfair concoctions.
All of this creates an absorbing series. However, sometimes the series feels cliché, especially in the romantic track between the two lead characters.
When we see parts of the underworld, one may feel we have seen this plenty of times onscreen before.
However, this doesn’t stop the gripping narrative, which keeps the audience hooked to the journeys of the characters.
Performances
With the release of Kill (2024), Lakshya Lalwani became an overnight sensation.
In The Ba***ds of Bollywood, he keeps that momentum alive with a performance rich with emotion, complexity, and depth.
The series also reunites him with his Kill co-star, Raghav Juyal, who plays Aasmaan’s friend, Parvaiz, in the show.
Raghav has an undeniable versatility, and his scenes with Lakshya in the series are heartwarming and gratifying.
Meanwhile, Lakshya shines in the juxtaposition of Aasmaan’s heartache and strong resolve.
In every episode, he is charming, passionate, and multifaceted. His facial expressions convey a range of emotions that tick the boxes of the character.
Sahher breathes with sincerity as Karishma. In one episode, she underscores the struggle of star kids.
She says: “Six of my dad’s movies flopped back-to-back, and no one could do anything.
“Outsiders can never understand this. But the ones with a silver spoon can feel that darkness very closely.
“Honestly, I don’t think I’m strong enough to deal with that kind of failure.
“That’s why I must succeed.”
Sahher’s powerful delivery perfectly encapsulates the somewhat underrated struggle of those who come from nepotism.
The Ba***ds of Bollywood also finds strong anchors in Bobby Deol as the overprotective father and Manish Chaudhari as the corrupt producer.
Mona Singh (Neeta Singh) and Vijayant Kohli (Rajat Singh) are brilliant as Aasmaan’s nurturing parents, but a strong contrast is created as they are also battling their own demons.
Aasmaan’s uncle, Avtaar Singh (Manoj Pahwa), has similar circumstances, but the actor creates an inherent charm, blending humour into unlikely situations.
Anya Singh is excellent as Aasmaan’s supportive manager, Sanya. She portrays a tenderness which gives the series an exquisite balance.
In one scene, Rajat tells his son: “You will meet a lot of people in the world who will try to bend you to their will.
“And when you’re forced to bow down, then raise your head.
“Look upwards and remember who you are.”
This becomes the underlying message of The Ba***ds of Bollywood – to never yield to unsavoury characters and pressure.
Karan Johar & Other Star Cameos
Aryan Khan pulls off an unexpected move by implementing Karan Johar into the series.
Karan is credited with a special appearance, but his presence is witnessed throughout the show.
In The Ba***ds of Bollywood, Karan plays a version of himself that is arrogant, narcissistic, and obnoxious.
He is a selfish filmmaker whose persona is unnerving. He threatens Aasmaan, even telling him at one point:
“Don’t f**k with the movie mafia!”
This is referring to the controversy involving Kangana Ranaut, who labelled Karan with the same tag during her appearance on Koffee With Karan in 2017.
The filmmaker seems to have no problem in portraying himself in this manner, strengthening the importance of the show’s message.
He delivers an unabashed performance, which is sure to make the audience smirk and roll their eyes. He becomes a character one will love to hate.
The series is also filled with cameos from several other actors who appear as themselves. Like Karan, most of these play arrogant, self-obsessed people.
These cameos include appearances from Aamir Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Disha Patani, and many more.
Although these appearances are important for showcasing the world of Bollywood, it could be argued that so many famous faces are just repeating a point that the audience already knows.
It would have been better, perhaps, if some of these celebrities showed a more positive side to the industry, thereby creating a helpful asymmetry.
Direction & Execution
For a debut venture, Aryan Khan takes on a challenging endeavour with The Ba***ds of Bollywood.
He is also unafraid to showcase the negative aspects of an industry which his own father has globally represented for over three decades.
The show’s pace can feel sluggish at times, and some of the decisions, particularly those of Ajay Talwar, feel redundant in some places.
However, Aryan paints a unique picture in the show. Even if the colours may seem unnecessarily bright, the painting does not falter.
Extracting superlative performances from his cast and staying faithful to his solid writing, Aryan creates a message that is essential for Bollywood’s current place.
Aryan’s bravery in taking a dig at his high-profile 2021 arrest is commendable, showing that dark times can prove light if reflected upon correctly.
The music, cinematography, and action is also nicely executed, giving this web series the scale of a grand motion picture.
In a time when nepotism, corruption, and dreams are daunting yet exciting topics in Bollywood, this series touches viewers in remarkable and unforeseen ways.
As for Aryan Khan, if The Ba***ds of Bollywood is an indication of what he is capable of, then the creative field could be awaiting the bowling of a massively talented player.
So, even though the series may seem a bit convoluted in places, its message and heart score on a high level.
For that, The Ba***ds of Bollywood should be watched with an open mind.
You’ve loved the magic of Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995), Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), and Pathaan (2023).
Now, embrace the talent of the junior and step into an unforgiving yet unforgettable territory.
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