The Ba**ds of Bollywood* — A Playful Mirror to an Industry of Dreams

Image Sournce: Netflix

There’s something fascinating about watching Bollywood turn the camera on itself. Not as a grand tribute or a self-congratulatory montage, but as a mischievous, unfiltered reflection of its own contradictions. The Ba**ds of Bollywood*, Aryan Khan’s debut directorial series on Netflix, does just that. It walks the tightrope between celebration and satire, and in doing so, captures the wild pulse of an industry that thrives on both illusion and audacity.

From its opening frames, it’s clear this isn’t a safe or formulaic first project. Aryan Khan approaches Bollywood not as a legacy to inherit but as a system to dissect. The son of the world’s most recognisable superstar steps behind the camera not to emulate, but to observe — to ask, with equal parts affection and critique, what really lies beneath the glamour.

The show bursts with energy. It’s brash, stylish, and unapologetically cinematic. Every scene gleams with excess — glitzy sets, bold costumes, and sharp one-liners that could only come from someone who has grown up inside the machine yet never fully belonged to it. There’s humour, too, but it’s the kind that comes with insight — the laughter of someone who knows the chaos intimately.

The writing moves confidently between irony and empathy. It captures the chaos of stardom, the fragility of ambition, and the dizzying pace at which fame can make or unmake someone. In the middle of all the madness, there are glimpses of sincerity — moments that show how every performer, no matter how seasoned, is still chasing validation. That mix of spectacle and humanity is where Aryan Khan’s direction truly shines.

Lakshya Lalwani and Sahher Bambba deliver grounded performances that anchor the glitter. Around them, a chorus of familiar faces — some in extended cameos, others in fleeting appearances — give the show its layered texture. Each one represents a shade of Bollywood: the dreamers, the opportunists, the power brokers, and the forgotten. The result is a world that feels exaggerated yet uncannily real.

But ambition comes with its own cracks. There are moments when the story loses its footing — scenes that stretch longer than they should, tonal shifts that feel slightly abrupt, or emotional beats that don’t land as deeply as intended. The series occasionally struggles under the weight of its own glamour, trying to balance too many moods at once. Yet, even when it falters, it does so with style — and that makes all the difference.

What stands out most is its honesty. The Ba**ds of Bollywood* doesn’t hide behind nostalgia or moral lessons. Instead, it revels in contradiction — mocking the industry while also admitting its irresistible pull. It laughs, it stumbles, and it dares to say that Bollywood’s imperfections are what make it timeless. For a debut director to approach such a massive cultural institution with this mix of confidence and self-awareness is no small feat.

The series might not please everyone. Purists may find it too glossy, cynics may find it too soft. But in truth, that’s exactly what makes it fascinating. It doesn’t try to win everyone over; it simply exists on its own terms, bold and unafraid, much like the industry it reflects.

In the end, Aryan Khan’s first directorial effort feels less like a statement and more like a promise. A promise that the next generation of storytellers can inherit Bollywood’s legacy without being consumed by it. The Ba**ds of Bollywood* may not reinvent the wheel, but it spins it fast enough to make you sit up and take notice.

It’s a series drenched in glamour and irony, built with affection and bite. It celebrates the art of illusion while quietly asking what lies beyond it — and in that space between shine and shadow, it finds its voice.

About JalebiConnection

JalebiConnection — Many Roots, One Sky

At the heart of JalebiConnection is a belief that many roots can flourish beneath one sky.

We are a platform dedicated to telling the evolving story of South Asians in Australia — a story that spans culture, sport, business, and community life. Our mission is to create a space where heritage is not confined to memory but carried into the present — lived, shared, and reimagined as part of Australia’s future.

From cricket rivalries that stop nations to small businesses reshaping local economies, from cultural traditions that find new expression on Australian soil to events that bring communities together — JalebiConnection weaves together the threads that define who we are and where we’re going.

Our guiding spirit is captured in the words we hold close:

From mountains high to oceans wide,Our voices rise as one in pride.From many roots, we share one sky,Together strong — Australia and I.This is the story we live every day — one of heritage carried forward, home embraced, and futures built together.

JalebiConnection is where many roots meet under one sky — a living, breathing platform that celebrates identity, sparks dialogue, and connects the South Asian experience across every arena of life.