When Congress MP Shashi Tharoor recently shared his thoughts on Aryan Khan’s Netflix series The Ba***ds of Bollywood, he probably didn’t expect his words of appreciation to stir up controversy. The show, which stars Lakshya Lalwani, Bobby Deol and Sahher Bambba, has been one of the most talked about OTT releases this year. A month after its release, Tharoor described it as “absolute OTT gold”, a remark that quickly went viral.
However, not everyone took his review at face value. A social media user accused the politician of getting paid to promote the directorial debut of Shah Rukh Khan’s son, suggesting that Tharoor had a “new side business” of writing paid reviews.
Shashi Tharoor did not stay silent. Responding to the troll, he firmly clarified, “I’m not for sale, my friend. No opinion I express has ever been paid for by anybody, in cash or in kind.”
https://x.com/ShashiTharoor/status/1982840982338191529
Explaining how he ended up watching the series, Shashi Tharoor shared on X (formerly Twitter) that he had been feeling unwell with a cold and cough and had to cancel his public engagements. His sister Smita Tharoor encouraged him to relax by watching something light, which led him to discover The Ba***ds of Bollywood. He said that the series turned out to be one of the best things he had done for himself in a long time.
In his detailed post, Shashi Tharoor expressed deep admiration for Aryan Khan’s work. He wrote that the series takes time to grow on you but eventually hooks you completely. He praised its sharp writing, bold direction and daring satire that takes a clever, unflinching look at the film industry. According to him, the show balances humor and heartbreak while exposing the realities behind Bollywood’s glamour through witty insider references.
Calling it a “true storytelling powerhouse”, Shashi Tharoor applauded Aryan Khan’s debut as a director, saying that he had delivered a masterpiece. He even sent a heartfelt message to Shah Rukh Khan, writing, “From one father to another, you must be so proud.”
https://x.com/ShashiTharoor/status/1982477415470534684
The series also features an impressive supporting cast, including Raghav Juyal, Mona Singh, Manoj Pahwa, Rajat Bedi and Anya Singh. To the delight of fans, it includes cameo appearances by several major stars — Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, SS Rajamouli, Karan Johar, Arshad Warsi, Ranbir Kapoor and Ranveer Singh.
Adding to the excitement, actor Rajat Bedi who plays Jaraj Saxena in the series recently revealed that the team has already started working on the second season of The Ba***ds of Bollywood.
Have you watched the series?
