Who is Sameer Wankhede? Ex-NCB officer who arrested Aryan Khan now sues Netflix series. [Photo: PTI]
Former NCB officer Sameer Wankhede is back in the news. He has filed a case in the Delhi High Court against the Netflix series ‘The Ba*ds of Bollywood’**, directed by Aryan Khan and produced by Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri Khan’s Red Chillies Entertainment.
Wankhede says the show damages his reputation and portrays him unfairly. His legal fight has revived memories of his 2021 investigation against Aryan Khan in the cruise drug case.
Sameer Wankhede is an Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer and former Mumbai Zonal Director of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB). He rose to fame as the head of multiple high-profile celebrity drug investigations. He was praised and criticized for his harsh style.
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Reports suggest that Wankhede’s net worth is around ₹10–12 crore. His wealth comes mainly from his government service, along with investments and assets.
He comes from a middle-class family in Maharashtra. His father, Dnyandeo Wankhede, worked as an excise officer. His family often found themselves in the media spotlight during Wankhede’s controversial cases.
Wankhede is married to actress Kranti Redkar, who is known for her work in Marathi films. The couple has twin daughters. Kranti has often defended her husband in public whenever he faced criticism.
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During his NCB tenure, Wankhede led several investigations involving Bollywood stars. His actions brought him into direct conflict with the film industry, making him a known name in Mumbai’s celebrity circle.
In October 2021, the NCB arrested Aryan Khan, son of Shah Rukh Khan, in a high-profile drug case. Sameer Wankhede was leading the Mumbai NCB at that time. Aryan spent weeks in jail before he got bail.
Later, a different NCB team admitted there was “lack of evidence” and dropped all charges against Aryan. The team even criticised Wankhede’s handling of the case.
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Sameer Wankhede claims ‘The Ba*ds of Bollywood’** presents him in a “false, malicious, and defamatory” light. He argues the series spreads “a misleading and negative portrayal of anti-drug enforcement agencies, thereby eroding public confidence in law enforcement institutions.”
His lawsuit also points to a scene where a character makes an obscene gesture after saying “Satyamev Jayate.” Wankhede says this violates the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, along with the IT Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
He has demanded a ban on the show’s streaming, along with ₹2 crore in damages, which he wants donated to Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital.
‘The Ba***ds of Bollywood’ marks Aryan Khan’s directorial debut. The show is a fictional drama about outsiders attempting to succeed in the glamorous but chaotic world of Bollywood.
Bobby Deol, Lakshya, and Raghav Juyal are seen in key roles in the show. It also features cameos from top actors like Ranbir Kapoor, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, and Ranveer Singh, adding star power and buzz.
But when delicate subjects and actual individuals are involved, the debate surrounding its content has raised issues of defamation against creative freedom.
This legal fight highlights a bigger issue — the clash between law enforcement officials and Bollywood’s creative world. Wankhede’s case may set an important precedent on how web series and films portray real officers. For Aryan Khan, the series was supposed to mark a fresh start in Bollywood, but it has now turned into a courtroom battle.
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