When Aryan Khan announced his first series, expectations were sky-high. The Bads of Bollywood doesn’t play it safe, it dives headfirst into the murky waters of nepotism, gossip, and power games that define the industry. The show positions itself as both a love letter and a roast, walking that tricky tightrope of being self-aware while also glamorous enough to keep the star-hungry audience glued. Right from the opening, it signals that this is not your typical glossy drama but a messy cocktail of satire and spectacle.
The biggest win here is the show’s audacity. Aryan Khan isn’t afraid to lampoon the same culture that made him a household name, turning nepotism and media circus into punchlines. Critics like Times of India praised the cheeky cameos, from Shah Rukh Khan to Ranbir Kapoor, that serve as delicious inside jokes for Bollywood junkies. Performances from Lakshya Lalwani, Raghav Juyal, and Sahher Bambba give the story some grounding, with Raghav’s emotionally charged scenes with Emraan Hashmi being singled out as standouts. It’s this mix of gossip, glitter, and grounded beats that makes the series a bingeable ride.
But the glitter doesn’t always cover the cracks. Several reviewers, including Indian Express, have called out the show for lacking the sharp bite it promises. While the satire is bold, it often slips into predictable territory, relying on familiar tropes of outsider-versus-insider and fame-versus-integrity. The female characters, in particular, feel underdeveloped compared to their male counterparts, and the tone sometimes lurches awkwardly from meta humor to melodrama. This unevenness keeps the show from achieving the razor-sharp edge it teases in its premise.
The split among critics reflects the show’s own contradictions. For some, it’s a daring and refreshing break from formulaic OTT dramas. For others, it’s a surface-level satire that doesn’t dig deep enough into the industry it claims to expose. Binged summarized it neatly: watch if you love Bollywood gossip, skip if you want substance. Yet, the buzz surrounding Aryan Khan’s first outing ensures it remains a cultural talking point, whether you love it or roll your eyes at its theatrics.
At the end of the day, The Bads of Bollywood is more spectacle than substance, but that’s not entirely a bad thing. It entertains, it provokes conversation, and it dares to roast an industry often too protective of its image. While it doesn’t always land its punches, it proves that Aryan Khan is willing to take creative risks, and that alone makes this debut noteworthy. If you want something spicy, glitzy, and unapologetically Bollywood, this series is worth a watch, just don’t expect it to redefine the genre.
Final Rating: 3.5 out of 5
