Aryan Khan’s directorial debut, The Ba*ds of Bollywood has been the talk of the town ever since it released on Netflix — not just for its scandalous satire and celeb cameos but now for a controversy brewing involving actor Ranbir Kapoor.
A scene from the show with Ranbir Kapoor vaping on television — without a statutory health warning — has provoked outrage. A complaint has been filed with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), charging the show with promoting vaping without proper disclaimers, which could have a bearing on young and vulnerable viewers.
In response to the complaint, the NHRC has addressed a letter to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting’s Secretary, calling for immediate action to ban similar content on OTT platforms. The commission has also written to the Mumbai Police Commissioner, suggesting an FIR under the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2019, against Ranbir Kapoor, Netflix, and the producers of the series.
The controversy is a surprise to fans, particularly given that Ranbir had earlier professed in a fan Q&A that he had kicked smoking and alcohol and turned to a vegetarian diet. His appearance vaping in the show has therefore left many puzzled, reviving arguments regarding responsibility among celebrity depictions.
National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sought an Action Taken Report from the Information and Broadcasting Ministry and Mumbai Police over a complaint against Netflix's web series 'Ba***ds of Bollywood'. The complainant alleged actor Ranbir Kapoor was shown using a banned… pic.twitter.com/rHMn4f6hbJ
— IANS (@ians_india) September 22, 2025
Ranbir’s cameo is just one of the many in the series, which also includes cameos by Ranveer Singh, Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Disha Patani, Arjun Kapoor, and Rajkummar Rao. The show has been lauded for its satirical approach to Bollywood’s inner workings and isn’t afraid to make mention of real-life controversies, including allusions to the likes of Sameer Wankhede.
On the basis of a complaint that Netflix web series titled the 'The Ba***ds of Bollywood' allegedly showed actor Ranbir Kapoor using banned e-cigarettes on screen without a warning or disclaimer, the National Human Rights Commission writes to the Secretary, Ministry of…
— ANI (@ANI) September 22, 2025
Though The Ba*ds of Bollywood maintains its acclamation for having the courage to tell its stories and be quick with its wit, the NHRC complaint puts a cloud over its otherwise triumphant launch. How Netflix and its makers deal with the legal battle on the cards will only be known in time.
