Shah Rukh Khan slaps his own son in the show The Ba***ds of Bollywood?

“The Ba***ds of Bollywood” is a 7-episode web series created and directed by Aryan Khan (Shah Rukh Khan’s son). It’s produced by Red Chillies Entertainment. Co-writers include Aryan himself, Bilal Siddiqi & Manav Chauhan.

The premise: Aasmaan Singh (played by Lakshya) is a young outsider from Delhi. He finally catches a break with a massy action film Revolver, which pushes him into the Bollywood machine. But things are never simple. There are controlling studio bosses, opportunistic alliances, betrayals, love that feels staged for optics, and a constant balancing act between ambition and integrity.

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Table of Contents

What Works

Here are many of the strong points of the show:

Satire & Meta-Humor
Shah Rukh Khan Son One of the biggest wins is how sharply the show satirizes Bollywood clichés: nepotism, PR spin, gossip, the rivalry, the “mafia” tag, fake love stories, and the way success and failure are only a few social media posts apart. The show does so with a kind of affectionate mockery. You sense love for the chaos, even as it points out the uglier parts.
Cameos and Star-Power Moments
The cast is big. You get Bobby Deol, Lakshya, Sahher Bambba, Anya Singh, Raghav Juyal, Manoj Pahwa, Mona Singh, and more. And then you have cameos — Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir, Salman, Ranveer Singh, Ranbir Kapoor, Karan Johar etc. These aren’t just thrown in for name value; many serve to escalate scenes, add humor, or underline points about the industry.
Visual Style & Energy
The show is glossy, stylish, with punchy visuals, slick editing, and production value that matches its big-budget feel. There’s an overall carnival of excess — parties, premiere nights, gossip rounds, dramatic lighting, costume changes, etc. It leans into Bollywood’s “bhaukal” (swagger) while also pulling it apart.
Bold & Personal Choices
Aryan Khan doesn’t shy away from referencing his own past controversies (his 2021 arrest, media scrutiny, etc.). There are scenes that seem inspired by real life — the show uses those moments not just for drama but for commentary. That gives it authenticity. Even if some things feel exaggerated, you feel the voice behind it is genuine.
Great Supporting Cast
Manoj Pahwa and Mona Singh are consistent standouts. Lakshya and Raghav Juyal carry the lead roles well (especially Lakshya as Aasmaan). There are bits of humor, friendship, drama, rivalry — these relationships are what make the show engaging beyond just the showbiz satire.

What Doesn’t Always Land

Tonality Issues / Emotional Beats Falter
The shift from satire/comedy to serious drama sometimes feels uneven. When the show tries to pull at the heartstrings, or go deeper into an emotional conflict (like family illness, betrayal, etc.), the result feels predictable and less grounded. The serious moments don’t always match the sharpness of the comedic ones.
Overuse of Tropes & Predictability
Some plot twists are telegraphed. For example, the conflict arcs, the rivals, the betrayal, etc., are standard Bollywood fare, just flavored with satire. So if you’ve seen Bollywood stories before, a lot won’t surprise you.
Underused Subplots / Characters
A few supporting threads (for example, the mobster storyline, or some of the side family relationships) feel like they are there for decoration rather than having real stakes. They could’ve been trimmed or deepened. Some characters (especially the female leads) might not get as much depth as others.
Love Story Feels Papered Over
The romantic arc between Aasmaan and Karishma is important to the storyline, but emotionally it doesn’t always click. It sometimes feels like romance is included because it’s expected, not because it feels organic
Ambitious, but Maybe Too Ambitious
With a star-heavy cast, lots of cameos, many themes (nepotism, scandal, media, PR, family, love, rivalry), satire, meta commentary — the show has a lot on its plate, sometimes more than it can chew. Because of that, a few things feel rushed or underexplained.

Highlights & Memorable Moments

These are some scenes or features that people are talking about:

The roundtable scene that many think is inspired by real nepotism debates (Ananya Panday vs. Siddhant, etc.). It may be fictional, but it’s sharp.
The mocking/parody of Shah Rukh Khan Aryan Khan’s own past (the cruise-party arrest, media trial) — shows that the show isn’t just satirical from a distance, but willing to lean in.
Raghav Juyal’s comic timing — his scenes with Emraan Hashmi, especially as a fanboy, are already viral.
Cameos from industry heavyweights (Shah Rukh Khan, Karan Johar, etc.) that feel more than bloated “name drops.” Some actually enhance scenes with humor or self-awareness.

Direction, Writing & Technical Stuff

Shah Rukh Khan Son Aryan Khan’s visual style is flashy: opening credits with comic-book style, vibrant colors, sharp costume design, interior of studios, parties — it all looks premium Bollywood.
The editing is punchy for many scenes, especially when satirizing — it keeps the pace up. But in emotional or slower scenes, pacing sometimes drags.
The soundtrack has moments (e.g. the song Badli Si Hawa Hai gets mentioned as instantly catchy). But overall music isn’t as memorable as visuals or dialogue.
Dialogue is good, especially when jokes are industry-insider or meta. But some lines feel too knowingly “Bollywood-y” which sometimes reduces their impact.

Verdict

So, is The Ba**ds of Bollywood* worth watching? My takeaway:

If you come expecting a sharp, biting satire that dismantles Bollywood completely, you might end up a bit disappointed. It is more playful than ruthless.
But if you want entertainment, laughs, star power, inside jokes, some self-reflexive commentary and are okay with melodrama & trope usage — it delivers well.
It’s best when you watch it as a “Bollywood playground” rather than a documentary. Accept its messiness; enjoy the cameos; appreciate the moments where it gets real.

On a rating scale, I’d give it around 3 to 3.5 out of 5. Good debut from Shah Rukh KhanSon Aryan Khan. Impressive visuals, entertaining sketches, and enough boldness to get people talking. But the emotional core isn’t consistent, and some storytelling choices could’ve been tighter.

What It Means Going Forward

This is a strong sign that Bollywood is more open now to self-criticism, parody, industry critique — especially from someone from within the “insider” world.
Audience expectations will be higher now: more authenticity, sharper satire. If Season 2 happens, it could benefit from more focus and fewer subplots.
Also, given the controversies and legal suits (e.g. Shah Rukh Khan Sameer Wankhede’s defamation suit, etc.), the show is already being part of larger conversations about ethics, legality, responsibility in creative works. Shows how entertainment & real life are shifting closer.