Aryan Khan vs Sameer Wankhede: Everything you need to know about their rivalry

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan, who made his directorial debut with 'Ba***ds of Bollywood,' has landed himself in trouble with his debut series as a lawsuit has been filed by IRS officer and former NCB zonal director Sameer Wankhede. He has filed a defamation suit against the makers Red Chillies Entertainment, Netflix, and sought Rs 2 crore in damages. Many view Aryan Khan’s series as an act of ‘revenge,’ with a spoof character resembling Sameer Wankhede. In his complaint, Wankhede alleges that the series "harms his reputation through a misleading and prejudiced depiction." The lawsuit argues that the show depicts anti-drug enforcement agencies negatively and inaccurately, which could undermine public confidence in these institutions.

A collage of Sameer Wankhede and Aryan Khan.

Credit: Sepcial Arrangement

With round two of the Aryan Khan and Sameer Wankhede feud intensifying, let’s take a closer look at how this high-profile clash began and developed over the years.

How did it all start?

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In October 2021, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) raided the Cordelia cruise heading to Goa, arresting 18 individuals in connection with the case. Aryan Khan, Munmun Dhamecha, and Arbaaz Merchant were among those arrested, following the seizure of drugs.

The 'Brain' behind the cruise raid

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Zonal director Sameer Wankhere, who led the NCB team, had raided the cruise and claimed to have recovered banned drugs.

28 days of jail

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Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s elder son, Aryan, remained nearly a month behind bars. He was cleared of all charges due to a lack of sufficient evidence in the drugs case.

From legal battle to personal vendetta

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The Narcotics Control Bureau later acknowledged insufficient evidence and dropped his name from the chargesheet, but by then, reports suggest that Aryan had already decided to settle scores with Sameer.

Bribery allegations and transfer

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After the incident, Sameer Wankhede became the center of several controversies, including a bribery allegation. In the wake of these developments, he was posted to DGARM in Mumbai, but within five months, he was moved to Chennai.

Aryan’s reel vs real clash

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Just as the controversy was fading from public memory, Aryan Khan’s debut series Ba***ds of Bollywood brought it back to the limelight.

Aryan's fictional dig at Wankhede?

Credit: Netflix India

The audience felt Aryan took a jab at former NCB officer Sameer Wankhede, linking to a character who looked remarkably like him.

Defamation suit filed

Credit: X/@swankhede_IRS

As online trolling intensified, Sameer Wankhede took legal action by filing a defamation suit in the Delhi High Court on Thursday (September 25), seeking Rs 2 crore in damages. The amount he has requested to be donated to Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital for cancer patients.

Clarity on web series complaint

Credit: DH Pool Photo

On Friday (September 26), the Delhi High Court questioned former NCB officer Sameer Wankhede regarding the admissibility of his defamation plea against Netflix and Shah Rukh Khan’s Red Chillies Entertainment, accusing them of damaging his reputation through their series The Ba***ds of Bollywood.