**Can an Outsider Make It Big in Bollywood?**
*The Ba***ds of Bollywood* revolves around Aasmaan (Lakshya), an outsider and rising Bollywood star. He lands a major film with Karan Johar, co-starring Karishma Talwar, the daughter of superstar Ajay Talwar (Deol). However, Ajay isn’t too pleased about this new entrant. Meanwhile, Aasmaan is chased by the mafia and struggles to balance his film commitments to Johar and producer Freddy Sodawallah (Manish Chaudhari).
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### 1. A Self-Aware, Smart, and Funny Show
Perhaps the best aspect of *The Ba***ds of Bollywood* is how self-aware, smart, and cheeky it is. From Johar calling himself the “film mafia” to Rajat Bedi (known for *Koi Mil Gaya*) taking multiple digs at his prolonged absence from the industry, the show leaves no stone unturned. Aryan Khan also pokes fun at his own drug controversy and even goes as far as spoofing Sameer Wankhede!
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### 2. Rajat Bedi’s Key Role
Bedi shines with a redemption arc that drives the plot forward. Playing Jaraj Saxena, a Bollywood has-been, he delivers an amusing and lovable character you can’t help but root for. There’s an underlying tragedy — exploring the fleeting nature of fame and what happens when it slips away. This role arguably marks one of Bedi’s best and most memorable performances to date.
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### 3. SRK’s Much-Hyped Cameo
One of the show’s highlights is Shah Rukh Khan’s hilarious cameo during the Filmfirst Awards scene. Khan nails his brief appearance, which serves as a love letter to iconic Bollywood moments—especially mirroring a popular scene from *Om Shanti Om*. The cameos and the way Aasmaan’s winning speech is shot underline Aryan’s affection for Farah Khan’s directorial style.
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### 4. A Bold Final Twist
The series truly shines when it mirrors real life. Karan Johar discusses nepotism candidly, references to Aryan’s enigmatic public persona make for clever jokes, and Orry’s “omnipresence” gets a cheeky mention. Towards the end, the show embraces a distinctly filmy twist. If renewed for a second season, it will be fascinating to see how this twist shapes the main characters’ journeys.
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### 5. Where the Show Could Improve
Despite its many meta moments and strong performances, the show has glaring issues. The much-hyped cameos, for instance, are hit-or-miss. While some bring instant smiles, others—like SS Rajamouli, Salman Khan, and Aamir Khan—are underutilized with weak dialogues. Salman Khan, in particular, barely gets screen time, which is a surprising missed opportunity.
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### 6. Narrative Inconsistencies
The show’s performances and humor largely hold it together, but the narrative feels scattered at times. The love story between Karishma and Aasmaan receives superficial treatment, making their romance unconvincing. Additionally, characters played by Manoj Pahwa and Juyal, intended to provide comic relief, are poorly written and lack depth, despite being pivotal to the plot.
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### 7. Overambition Hampers Focus
The underworld subplot, featuring Arshad Warsi as a don, struggles to engage and sometimes feels like it’s competing for space with the main storyline. The show’s ambition seems to work against it at times, making it feel cluttered. A disappointing moment comes with the tacky VFX during a car chase between Ajay and Aasmaan—unfortunately not befitting such a high-profile show.
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### Verdict: Aryan’s Directorial Debut Is Entertaining
*The Ba***ds of Bollywood* is at its best when satirizing the industry and immersing viewers in Bollywood’s glamorous, enigmatic world. With tighter writing and better-developed supporting characters, the series could have been more enjoyable and dramatic. Nonetheless, despite some fluff and narrative lapses, it remains binge-worthy, humorous, and entertaining.
**Rating: 3 out of 5 stars**
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