The Delhi High Court has supported Sameer Wankhede in his suit against Red Chillies Entertainment over Aryan Khan’s show The Ba***ds of Bollywood. The former NCB officer alleged that the show defames him. While the makers claimed that the series is a satire, the Delhi HC said that the depiction was satire, but it wasn’t without bias. 

Wankhede sued Red Chillies, Netflix and show’s director Aryan Khan for defamation. He claimed that a character in the show resembled Wankhede and mocked him. Aryan was arrested by Wankhede in 2021 as a part of the Narcotics Control Bureau’s raid but all charges against him were dropped later. In Aryan’s show, a character who is an officer of a fictional agency, arrests an actor on false charges. Senior Advocate Kaul, who is representing Red Chillies, told the court, “I am entitled to do this. You are putting a gun to my head in the plaint. Of course, I can say that I am inspired by characters….Every producer, paparazzi can appear tomorrow, (saying) my face resembles. RK Laxman’s character is an example who ridiculed the Prime Minister.”

Responding to this, the court said that there was no bias in RK Laxman’s work but there is bias in The Ba***ds of Bollywood, since Aryan and Wankhede have a history. Senior Advocate Sai Deepak who is appearing for Wankhede argued that satire is usually based on real incidents, not fiction and questioned, “Who are you making a satire on?” He also said that the scene was a mockery of his client and removing it will not disrupt the narrative of the show but keeping it will affect Wankhede.

The court then enquired about the pending CBI, ED, and CAT cases against Wankhede to which he responded, “Do I deserve this trial in public opinion?” Wankhede’s lawyer further argued that his family has been ridiculed through the show. He cited a review by Kamal R Khan that accused The Ba***ds of Bollywood of ridiculing Wankhede. “The show has convinced people that I have no integrity. Chor, and what else? Red Chillies and Netflix are in cahoots with each other. They are not saying we are just an intermediary, so a certain degree of liability is on Netflix as well,” added the lawyer.

The next hearing will happen on November 26.

Also Read: Delhi HC Questions Sameer Wankhede On Defamation Case Against Aryan Khan’s The B***ds Of Bollywood

Salman Khan’s Dabangg franchise is a fan-favourite! Their last film, Dabangg 3 is still talked about. After its release in 2019, the makers put a halt to more films from the franchise but it seems like Salman and brother Arbaaz Khan are returning with more soon. During Arbaaz’s recent interaction with Zoom, he shared about Dabangg 4 being in the pipeline.

During the conversation, Arbaaz noted that the makers are in no hurry to make the movie, but certain talks are currently on. “It’s something that is in the pipeline, but I don’t know the timeline… So that’s my answer which is a very patent answer because everybody’s patent question is when is Dabangg 4 going to come? So that’s my answer to it,” he added.

He also shared that while it will happen, the major discussions between Salman and the makers will have to be done first. Arbaaz quipped, “We’re working on it and no hurry. But it is something that Salman and we will discuss and do. It will happen. I don’t know when but whenever it happens it’ll be something to look forward to.” The producer-actor refused to spill further beans but his answer has made fans super excited about seeing their favourite cop Chulbul Pandey.

The first Dabangg movie was released in 2010. It starred Salman Khan as Chulbul Pandey and then debutant Sonakshi Sinha as Rajjo. After the massive success of the first instalment, the second one was released in 2012 and the third hit the theatres in 2019.

On the professional front, Salman Khan was last seen in AR Murugadoss’ Sikandar. He is currently preparing for Battle of Galwan. Sonakshi Sinha, on the other hand, was last seen in Nikita Roy and Jatadhara.

ALSO READ: Sonakshi Sinha talks about why a track like Yu Karke from Dabangg 3 is her USP