The Bastards of Bollywood Review: Aryan Khan’s Bold & Unfiltered Debut

When the trailers for The Bastards of Bollywood dropped, everyone buzzed about Aryan Khan finally stepping behind the camera. The promise was unfiltered pyaar and waar on Bollywood itself, and when the series hit Netflix on 18 September 2025, it instantly became the talking point. The question is, does it live up to the noise?

Aryan Khan’s Directorial Debut

The Bastards of Bollywood (stylized also as The Bads of Bollywood or Ba***ds of Bollywood) marks Aryan Khan’s directorial debut. He also co-wrote the series and shaped its dialogue, while the production came through Gauri Khan and Red Chillies Entertainment.

The show is his vision from top to bottom, one that acknowledges the charges of nepotism but refuses to shy away from them. In fact, Aryan almost wears that privilege of being Shahrukh Khan’s son like armor, channeling it into a work that is sharp, cheeky, and unashamedly filmy.

So what is it about?

The series follows Aasmaan Singh, played by Lakshya Lalwani, an outsider who unexpectedly delivers the biggest hit of the year. What unfolds is his struggle to stay afloat in an industry ruled by image, profit margins, and reputations rather than artistic merit. The self-proclaimed “Movie Mafia” pull strings, and the underworld lurks in the background. The show thrives because it never takes itself too seriously. Instead, it embraces parody, leaning into masala spectacle and inside jokes.

Characters that Shine

Lakshya carries the role of Aasmaan with surprising charisma, making him believable as an actor who suddenly finds himself at the top. Yet it is Raghav Juyal’s Parvaiz who often steals the spotlight. At first he looks like the stereotypical hanger-on friend, but the more you watch, the more his loyalty and flaws feel genuine. His questionable choices stem from emotion, not malice, and that makes him relatable.

Sahher Bambba plays Karishma Talwar, the face of nepotism within the show, while Divik Sharma as her brother Shaumik reflects how money and fame can warp character. The contrast between the two is striking and deliberate. Bobby Deol, meanwhile, commands attention every time he appears. Whether playing mentor, father, or power broker, he carries the screen with ease. He doesn’t just appear; he dominates.

Cameos and Meta Moments

The show has fun with itself by packing in cameos at every turn. Shah Rukh Khan appears delivering wit and charm with the kind of self-deprecating humor that has always been his trademark. Salman Khan pops in briefly but leaves a laugh behind.

Emraan Hashmi’s sequence with Raghav Juyal is one of the most memorable, a reminder of how effortlessly he can light up the screen.

Other cameos range from the delightfully unhinged to the surprisingly subtle. Karan Johar, Ranbir Kapoor, Aamir Khan, Sara Ali Khan, Ibrahim Ali Khan, and many others show up, adding to the constant game of spot-the-celebrity.

At one point the series even references Aryan Khan’s own past run-in with the Narcotics Bureau, a self-aware jab that signals the tone of the entire project.

What Worked

What works is how fresh the whole thing feels. Bollywood has long stuck to OTT dramas like Mirzapur, Sacred Games and other endless action franchises. The Bastards of Bollywood goes for something different: a satirical love letter that doesn’t mind being messy. It celebrates the excess and laughs at it at the same time.

Pieces That Could’ve Been Sharper

Where it falters sometimes is pacing. Episodes three to five sag, with gags stretched longer than necessary and the actual story losing momentum. The humor sometimes leans into cringe territory, and a few scenes feel like sketches stitched together rather than a smooth narrative. But even with these flaws, the energy rarely disappears.

If you were hoping for a deep, systemic critique of nepotism, of Bollywood’s real dark side you’ll find glimpses but not exhaustive detail.

Direction and Style

Aryan Khan directs with confidence. He knows the industry inside out and uses that knowledge to deliver a show dripping with references, double meanings, and self-mockery. The dialogues swing between witty and cheesy, but they are never dull. The production design embraces spectacle, with bright colors, dramatic set pieces, and a soundtrack that screams Bollywood masala. For a debut, the vision is surprisingly assured.

Final Thoughts

The Bastards of Bollywood is not here to expose the industry’s darkest truths. It is here to celebrate, poke, and parody. It is closer in spirit to Om Shanti Om or Main Hoon Na than to a gritty exposé. Think of it as a 2025 cousin of those films, with Gen Z humor, adult themes, and a willingness to laugh at itself. The series doesn’t fixate on morals or messaging. Instead, it sells what Bollywood has always sold best: spectacle, emotion, and entertainment.

Rating:

We give it a 3.5 out of 5 stars. It lands there because while the show has brilliant highs and memorable performances, the uneven pacing in the middle holds it back but it also shows that Aryan Khan has the vision and confidence to build something uniquely his own.

Stream It or Skip It?

This one’s a Stream It. At seven episodes of around 35 minutes each, it’s an easy binge that rewards Bollywood fans with inside jokes, cameos, and a refreshing meta take. Some will find it too crass, others will think the pacing drags, but most will be entertained. Aryan Khan’s debut is far from flawless, but it is bold, funny, and filled with energy. It is streaming now on Netflix.

Have you already watched The Bastards of Bollywood? Did the cameos make you smile or did the satire fall flat? Share your thoughts in the comments, I’d love to know whether you think Aryan Khan’s debut deserves the hype or not.

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