Aryan Khan’s Netflix series The Ba***ds of Bollywood has landed in legal trouble over a scene showing actor Ranbir Kapoor smoking a banned e-cigarette without a statutory disclaimer, ANI reported.
A complaint has been filed with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), alleging that the scene could influence young viewers and violates existing law.
On Monday, the NHRC wrote to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting’s secretary, stating that the complainant has demanded strict action against the actors, producers, and Netflix for “misleading youth and violating the law.”
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
The commission also urged the ministry to prohibit such content and has written to the Mumbai Police Commissioner, requesting an FIR against Ranbir Kapoor, the series’ producers, and Netflix under the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2019.
Violation of law
“This incident is a clear violation of Sections 4, read with Section 7, of the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2019,” the NHRC’s letter, accessed by IANS, stated. “Section 4 prohibits the storage, use, and promotion of e-cigarettes in any form, while Section 7 penalises individuals and companies that advertise or promote such banned products,” it added.
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
Starcast of The Ba***ds of Bollywood
The Ba***ds of Bollywood is a satirical action-comedy drama created, co-written, and directed by debutant Aryan Khan, premiered on Netflix on September 18. Starring Lakshya Lalwani, Bobby Deol, Raghav Juyal, Sahher Bambba, and Anya Singh, the series has earned praise from critics and audiences as “irreverent, intriguing, and entertaining in equal measure.”
Apart from Ranbir Kapoor, the show also features cameos by Ranveer Singh, Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Emraan Hashmi, Arshad Warsi, Disha Patani, Arjun Kapoor, and Rajkummar Rao.