The first look of Aryan Khan’s much-awaited directorial debut, The Ba***ds of Bollywood, is finally out — and the audience is already hooked.** Gritty, intense, and steeped in the chaotic undercurrents of the film industry, the show promises to deliver something fresh and fearless. While the cast and concept have generated buzz, it was the emotional camaraderie and pride at the preview event that truly stole the spotlight.
One of the most moving moments of the evening came from acclaimed actor Bobby Deol, who plays a pivotal role in the show. Speaking from the heart, Bobby expressed how deeply personal this project felt — not just as an actor, but as a father, mentor, and someone who has watched Aryan grow over the years.
“It’s a special day for me,” Bobby began.
“Our children want to enter this industry… and now Aryan is stepping in. That makes this day even more meaningful. I can feel what’s going on in your heart, Shah Rukh — because I’m feeling it too.”
Bobby reflected on seeing Aryan evolve over the years, from a young boy to a man with creative fire in his eyes: “I’ve seen Aryan as a child… and then again when he was a bit older. The person he’s becoming, the way we talked and shared things — I just felt there was something magical about him. Like he was ready to conquer the world. And today is that day.”
Recalling how he first became part of the project, Bobby shared:“I still remember getting that phone call from Red Chillies — ‘Would you like to do a show? Aryan is directing it.’ I said yes immediately. I didn’t need to hear anything else.”
But Aryan insisted on narrating the script personally.
“I went to meet him and ended up sitting there for seven hours, listening. The entire time I was just watching Aryan. The conviction with which he narrated it — I felt so proud and happy. As parents, we live with a quiet fear — we want our children to have that talent, that spark, to succeed. And Aryan has it.”
What moved Bobby the most was Aryan’s grip on storytelling and direction, especially with such a large and layered ensemble: “I’m lucky to be part of this show. And I’m not saying that because it’s my show, or Aryan’s, or SRK’s. I’m saying it because I’ve seen it. It’s massive. Every actor has done a fantastic job — but it’s the director who brings out the best in them. And that’s not easy. It’s hard to extract the emotions you write on paper, to bring them alive in each character. But Aryan has done it — brilliantly. From the mature actors to the younger ones, he’s gotten the best out of everyone.”
The Ba***ds of Bollywood is set to stream exclusively on Netflix starting September 18, bringing its unfiltered take on the industry to a global audience.