The Bads of Bollywood: Plot, Cast & Hit or Flop

Aryan Khan’s directorial debut on Netflix takes aim at Bollywood with a chaotic seven-episode satire that pulls zero punches—lampooning nepotism, star tantrums, and industry scheming all at once. The series debuted September 19, 2025, racking up 2.8 million opening weekend views, and quickly became the kind of show Bollywood either loves or hates with equal intensity. Whether you’re here for the meta humor or the star-studded cameos, one thing is certain: this is not a gentle tribute.

Platform: Netflix ·
Release Year: 2025 ·
Type: TV Series ·
Episodes: Season 1 ongoing ·
Key Theme: Bollywood scandals

What is The Bads of Bollywood about?

The series follows Aasmaan Singh (Lakshya Lalwani), a Delhi outsider who stumbles into Bollywood stardom after a surprise hit changes everything. He signs a 3-film contract with producer Freddy Sodawallah (Manish Chaudhari), then gets paired with nepo-kid Karishma Talwar (Sahher Bambba)—whose father, superstar Ajay Talwar (Bobby Deol), opposes the whole arrangement. The show zeroes in on scheming, ego clashes, and the absurdity of fame rather than any actual filmmaking process.

Plot summary

The series opens with meta humor and flashy style, channeling chaotic 90s potboilers but filtered through an angsty millennial lens. Aasmaan rides a wave of luck and industry manipulation, encountering every cliché the industry produces. Critics note the show references real Bollywood films like Gully Boy and Gehraiyaan, while celebrities appear as looney-tunes versions of themselves.

Main characters

Raghav Juyal delivers the scene-stealing performance as Parvaiz, Aasmaan’s best friend and sidekick. The supporting cast includes Anya Singh as manager Sanya, Manoj Pahwa as uncle Avtaar, Mona Singh as mom Neeta, and Rajat Bedi as a has-been actor navigating relevance. Reportedly, cameos include Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, Karan Johar, Ranveer Singh, and Emraan Hashmi.

Why is it called The Bads of Bollywood?

The title uses three asterisks to hint at the industry’s underbelly—the bad decisions, bad behavior, and bad blood that drive Bollywood. It’s a deliberate choice to signal that the show won’t soft-pedal its targets. The satire aims to be an angry middle finger to the industry rather than an affectionate send-up.

Title origin

The asterisks serve a dual purpose: censorship and emphasis. They acknowledge that some truths are too raw to name directly while simultaneously pointing at the very things being hidden. The title invites viewers to fill in the blanks—which is exactly the point.

Asterisks meaning

Hollywood Reporter India describes the show as “clumsy, campy and oddly perceptive”—and the title fits that energy. It announces the series as a critique while leaving room for entertainment value.

Is The Bads of Bollywood a real story?

The series is fictional but draws heavily from Bollywood’s real scandals and personality clashes. Several plotlines echo genuine industry dramas, though no real events are depicted directly. The show uses real industry dynamics as raw material for its satire engine.

Inspired events

The series references actual Bollywood incidents without directly portraying them. Reportedly, the Karan Johar character fascination and nepotism critiques hit close to real industry tensions. The Dharma Productions parallel suggests the show knows exactly which pressure points to press.

Shah Rukh Khan-Wankhede row

Industry insiders note that Shah Rukh Khan’s infamous 2012 incident at IPL forms part of the satirical backdrop. Whether the series directly addresses it remains ambiguous—but the timing and references suggest intent.

Kartik Aaryan Dharma drama

The Kartik Aaryan-Dharma Productions fallout reportedly influenced the nepotism subplot. Karishma Talwar’s character echoes the kind of industry favoritism that real actors have publicly criticized.

Is Bads of Bollywood a hit?

Viewership data shows 2.8 million opening weekend views, growing to 7.4 million by week 3. The series reportedly outperformed Suhana Khan’s The Archies (3.5 million views) and briefly ranked 10th on Netflix’s global top 10. However, no clear hit-or-flop verdict has emerged from industry analysts.

Hit or flop analysis

Indiaforums gave the series 3.5 out of 5, calling it “a masala, meta, mad ride that Bollywood deserves.” Hindustan Times scored it 3 out of 5, noting the show never takes itself seriously—which makes it entertaining but not necessarily excellent.

Audience reception

Reviews praise the meta humor and Raghav Juyal’s performance as highlights. Critics flag plot cohesion issues, particularly in episodes 5-6 where generic romance and action drag things down. Some plotlines get abandoned mid-series, leaving loose ends that frustrate attentive viewers.

Is Bads of Bollywood worth watching?

For viewers who enjoy Bollywood’s self-awareness about its own absurdity, the series delivers entertainment value. Those expecting tight plotting or character depth may leave disappointed. The satire works best when it leans into chaos rather than trying to tell a coherent story.

Pros and cons

Viewer feedback

Suchin Mehrotra (THR India) calls it “one of the most entertaining watches of the year” with a “deliciously chaotic take on the Hindi film industry.” Reddit users praise the fresh concept, noting it “didn’t shy away” from industry realities. Rotten Tomatoes critics describe it as “sharp, self-aware satire” that occasionally stumbles.

Aryan Khan shows promise as a director who understands his target—Bollywood insiders who enjoy seeing their industry skewered—but the execution wobbles when the plot tries to carry weight it wasn’t built for. For casual viewers seeking entertainment, the watch time pays off. For those expecting narrative substance, episodes 5-6 will test patience. The cameo appearances add glitter, but glitter fades; what remains is a show that knows exactly what it’s mocking but not always how to mock it effectively.

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As explored in Aryan Khan’s Netflix debut guide, The Bads of Bollywood by Aryan Khan skewers nepotism and scandals with its star cameos and 2.8M views.