By Ayesha Khan 
New Delhi, September 18: By the time Aryan Khan’s first web series, “The Ba**ds of Bollywood,” actually hits Netflix at 12:30 PM today, it has already stirred up the kind of noise producers dream about. Early reviews are out, social media is restless, and critics are surprisingly upbeat for a show that could easily have been dismissed as just another star kid’s vanity project.
A Debut With Its Own Voice
The word from those who caught advance episodes is simple: it’s fun. As Hindustan Times put it, the show is “spoofy” and “binge-worthy,” a satirical take on Bollywood clichés that doesn’t overthink its humor. More importantly, Aryan Khan’s direction has been singled out as sharp.
That is no small thing. With a last name like Khan, every move is scrutinized. Aryan could have walked onto a film set as a leading man, and the industry would have bent over backwards. Instead, he has stepped behind the camera. Whether out of instinct or caution, it sets him apart from the nepotism tag his generation has been stuck with. And on day one, at least, it seems to be working.
Why An Afternoon Drop?
Netflix isn’t known for experimenting with release times, but this one lands at 12:30 PM IST. According to Indiatimes, the logic is reach: a mid-day launch means Indian audiences get it before evening chatter begins, while overseas viewers can tune in during their own peak hours.
It also gives the show’s marketing team exactly what they want—instant trending hashtags and lunchtime memes. For a series that lives and dies on conversation, that timing matters as much as the content itself.
Packed Cast, Bigger Cameos
The main roles go to Lakshya and Sahher Bambba, both young and both hungry. Surrounding them are familiar names: Bobby Deol, Manoj Pahwa, Mona Singh, Manish Chaudhari, Raghav Juyal, and Gautami Kapoor.
But everyone knows that’s not the selling point. The real fireworks are in the cameos: Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Ranveer Singh, and Karan Johar. It reads like a Filmfare cover. Even if they pop in for a scene or two, the collective weight of that list is enough to make this series an event.
The Odd Title
The three asterisks in “The Ba**ds of Bollywood” have done their job: people are talking. As The Times of India noted, cast members insist it’s not just about censoring a swear word. It’s meant to provoke, to look unfinished, and even to make you second-guess what’s being hidden.
In a way, that’s the point. Bollywood thrives on suggestion and scandal. Aryan’s team clearly wanted the title itself to feel like part of the satire. Whether viewers think it’s clever or just gimmicky remains to be seen.
Music That Misses The Note
Not everything has landed. The soundtrack is already drawing flak. The Indian Express calls the songs shallow, all bass drops and club energy but without the staying power that Bollywood music usually carries. For a show built around the industry itself, it feels like a missed chance. Music is often what lingers, what outlasts the story. Here, it may not.
The Bigger Picture
At stake is more than one series. For Aryan Khan, this is about proving he has a creative voice independent of his father’s empire. For Netflix, it is a test of whether Indian originals can cut through a crowded market dominated by cricket streams and reality shows. And for Bollywood, it is a rare chance to laugh at itself without losing face.
What Comes Next
By tonight, the verdict will begin to settle. If people watch beyond the cameos and stick around for the story, Aryan Khan may have his first real win. If not, it risks becoming just another buzzy experiment that burned bright and faded fast.
Either way, the conversation has started. For Netflix and Aryan both, that is already half the battle.
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- Ayesha Khanhttps://hindustanherald.in/author/ayesha/
- Ayesha Khanhttps://hindustanherald.in/author/ayesha/
- Ayesha Khanhttps://hindustanherald.in/author/ayesha/
- Ayesha Khanhttps://hindustanherald.in/author/ayesha/
