Netflix has clarified before the Delhi High Court that its series Ba*ds of Bollywood carries no malicious intent toward former NCB officer Sameer Wankhede and that the disputed scenes are part of a general satire on Bollywood, not a personalised attack.

The streaming platform argued that the show is a fictional, exaggerated satire of the Hindi film industry, addressing themes of glamour, power struggles, scandals, and insider dynamics. Netflix emphasised that the character Wankhede claims resembles him is entirely fictional and not designed to defame or insult any real individual.

During the hearing, Netflix’s counsel explained that public figures face a higher threshold to prove defamation, and Wankhede has not demonstrated any deliberate attempt to damage his reputation. The company added that the contested scene lasts only a short duration and must be viewed in context as part of a larger narrative, not in isolation.

Netflix also maintained that Ba*ds of Bollywood does not recreate real-life events and is neither a documentary nor a commentary on the 2021 cruise case involving Aryan Khan. It stressed that creative works are protected under freedom of expression and that removing scenes could compromise the integrity of the series.

The matter is currently under consideration, with the Delhi High Court examining issues of jurisdiction and assessing whether Wankhede has established grounds for interim

relief.