Actor Ashish Kumar, who plays a plain-clothed narcotics officer in Aryan Khan’s Netflix series The Bads of Bollywood, has finally addressed the ongoing chatter around his role.
Some viewers have claimed that the character resembles former NCB officer Sameer Wankhede, who is known for leading the 2021 arrest of Aryan Khan.
This speculation escalated into a significant controversy when Sameer Wankhede filed a defamation suit against Aryan Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, and Netflix, alleging that the show harmed his reputation. The Delhi High Court, however, recently dismissed his petition as "not maintainable."
Responding to the online buzz, Ashish Kumar took to Instagram to share his thoughts. "Hello everyone. Yesterday, I uploaded a video thanking Aryan Khan and the team. Many liked it and most of you did not like it, plus left some bad comments. Hence, am making this video, clarifying it all."
Further, he added, "Some people are saying that your followers are very less, it's because I didn't use Instagram much, now I will. The second thing is that I used the picture of myself playing the narcotics cop, it's me, I am him and I can use the picture for myself. People are comparing me with other people, I am not anyone else, but just doing my job, playing the role of a cop. Most of you are calling me look-alike of someone, I don't want to get involved in that. But in real life, this is me, I have done a part of the cop's character and anyway, I don't like any kind of cheap publicity."
Fans flooded his post with praise, calling his performance impactful despite limited screen time. One viewer wrote, “Small role, big impact.” Another added, “Aap to main MVP ho pure show ke (You are the real MVP of the show).”
Interestingly, when a fan teased him by saying, “Sameer, jiska role kiya (Sameer, whose role you played),” Ashish Kumar cheekily replied with a laugh emoji.
The Show’s Buzz
The Bads of Bollywood, which dropped earlier this month, is already making waves. The series, described as Aryan Khan’s satirical take on the Hindi film industry, became the fourth-most-watched non-English series on Netflix globally in its debut week.
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The ensemble cast includes Lakshya, Sahher Bambba, Bobby Deol, Raghav Juyal, Anya Singh, Manoj Pahwa, and Mona Singh. With its irreverent tone and biting commentary on Bollywood, the show has sparked heated debates while still finding a loyal audience.
What’s Next?
While the legal wrangle continues, Ashish Kumar’s performance has unexpectedly become one of the talking points of the series. His no-nonsense response to the controversy suggests he’s moving on, even as the debate over artistic freedom and defamation plays out in court.
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FAQs
Q1: Who is Ashish Kumar in The Bads of Bollywood?
Ashish Kumar plays a narcotics officer in Aryan Khan’s Netflix series, credited as a plain-clothed cop.
Q2: Why did Sameer Wankhede file a lawsuit?
Sameer Wankhede alleged that Ashish Kumar’s character was based on him, defaming his reputation and enforcement agencies.
Q3: How has the series performed on Netflix?
The Bads of Bollywood ranked as the fourth-most-watched non-English series worldwide in its opening week.
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