On February 3, 2025, at a star-studded event in Mumbai, Shah Rukh Khan unveiled his son Aryan Khan’s directorial debut series titled The Ba*ds of Bollywood. The event was attended by the Khan family, with Shah Rukh’s wife Gauri Khan and daughter Suhana Khan also by his side. But it wasn’t just Aryan’s debut project that stole the spotlight. During a candid interaction, Shah Rukh revealed an interesting anecdote about his attempts to get Aryan a job at Netflix, which led to some amusing revelations about the Khan family’s journey in the entertainment industry.
Shah Rukh’s Pitch to Netflix’s Ted Sarandos and Bela Bajaria
Eloquent and witty Shah Rukh Khan recounted that he had gone to the top bosses of Netflix—Ted Sarandos (the CEO) and Bela Bajaria (the Chief Content Officer)—to request that his son Aryan get a job at the streaming giant. In a widely publicized conversation, Shah Rukh revealed that he had planned to have Aryan work with Netflix where he could assist a director or producer. However, COVID-19 ensued and derailed those plans.
Shah Rukh said in a viral video that had the pandemic not struck, Aryan would have stayed in the United States working directly under the Netflix umbrella for a career in international entertainment. He has plans to work in the international entertainment industry. If it was not for COVID, I’d talked to Ted and Bela to give him a job at Netflix so that he can assist someone there. But COVID happened, so he came back to India.”
This simple yet profound statement speaks volumes about Shah Rukh’s belief in his son’s talent and the way he had envisioned Aryan’s career unfolding before the global pandemic altered everyone’s lives. In his speech, Shah Rukh referred to Ted Sarandos and Bela Bajaria, both of whom have played a significant role in Netflix’s international expansion, underscoring the importance of their roles in his son’s initial career planning.
Aryan Khan’s Road to Debut as a Director
Once Aryan went back to India during the COVID-19 pandemic, he did not waste a single day and started conceptualizing his own creative projects. He finally came up with The Ba*ds of Bollywood, a show that has been highly awaited in the entertainment industry. Not only did Aryan conceptualize the show, but he also started writing it, showing his dedication to his craft. This is his first foray into direction, and the teaser that was released during the event left fans and critics buzzing with excitement.
The teaser of the show features Shah Rukh Khan himself in front of the camera, with Aryan calling the shots from behind the lens. A hilarious moment that made the clip even more entertaining for viewers was when Shah Rukh failed to get his lines right, and Aryan just couldn’t help but laugh. Shah Rukh’s teasing and occasionally irritable comments, such as, “Shut up. one more, one more. Tere baap ka raj hai kya?” (Does your father own this business?), received a cheeky reply from Aryan: “Yes.” The playful exchange between father and son captures the very essence of their close bond and mutual respect despite Shah Rukh being the celebrated global superstar.
The Ba*ds of Bollywood promises to be a show full of sharp wit, satire, and deep dives into Bollywood’s glamorous yet complex world. Shah Rukh Khan’s own production house, Red Chillies Entertainment, which has a long-standing collaboration with Netflix, is producing the show. This co-operation is the consolidation of a sound track record on Shah Rukh’s part and that of Red Chillies with Netflix India, through shows like Love Hostel, Class of 83, Bard of Blood, Darlings, Betaal, and Bhakshak.
Co-created by Aryan Khan, Bilal Siddiqi, and Manav Chauhan, who share the writing credits, the show is being produced by Gauri Khan, Shah Rukh’s wife, adding another layer of family involvement to the production.
The impact of family and legacy on Aryan’s career
Shah Rukh Khan’s open endorsement of Aryan’s career speaks to the significance of family support in the entertainment industry. Aryan Khan has grown up in a household with films, media, and international attention, which is likely to have played a great role in his career aspirations. While Aryan’s talent and vision are his own, it is very clear that Shah Rukh’s influence has been pivotal in guiding him through this journey.
An industry where legacy holds much power, Aryan’s directorial debut under the Red Chillies Entertainment banner looks quite promising, if it leads to a long career. The great privileges being the son of Shah Rukh Khan hold notwithstanding, his career will still depend on how skilfully and creatively he comes up with something new in a world getting competitive by the minute.
The fact that Aryan decided to focus on direction and writing, rather than acting, speaks for his desire to carve out a niche in the entertainment industry. The Bads of Bollywood* is much more than just a family venture; it represents Aryan’s official entry into the industry and will surely be watched with interest by fans, critics, and industry insiders. What to Expect from The Bads of Bollywood*
Given the hype around the announcement of the show, The Ba*ds of Bollywood is sure to give an ironic view of the world of Bollywood, probably exposing the glamour, the drama, and the politics behind it all. The title itself brings curiosity and a sense of intrigue, leaving fans eager to find out what Aryan Khan has in store.
The playful and somewhat irreverent vibe of the teaser suggests a show that doesn’t take itself too seriously, yet is likely to offer insightful commentary on the inner workings of the industry. The dynamic between Shah Rukh and Aryan Khan, as seen in the teaser, is something that viewers are sure to appreciate, as it showcases the father-son duo’s effortless camaraderie.
As much as Aryan’s journey has just started, it has heavyweight players such as Gauri Khan, Bilal Siddiqi, and Manav Chauhan behind it. Thereby adding some significant weight to the credibility of the show. In that case, viewers should be prepared for a good strong, engaging narrative aligned with what one knows is possible through Red Chillies Entertainment’s creative output.
5 Most Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why did Shah Rukh Khan want Aryan to work for Netflix?
Shah Rukh Khan wanted to expose his son Aryan to as much of the entertainment industry as possible. He first approached top Netflix executives, Ted Sarandos and Bela Bajaria, to get his son Aryan a job. He asked them to find him a place where he could be an assistant to someone at Netflix so he could continue to learn direction and production. With the COVID-19 lockdown, Aryan headed back to India, where he began working on his own projects.
What is The Bads of Bollywood about?
The Ba*ds of Bollywood is Aryan Khan’s first series as a director. The audience can expect this to be satirical, yet behind-the-scenes look into the world of Bollywood, humorously and with a dash of drama. The teaser features Shah Rukh Khan, and the video itself features Aryan himself directing his father, with both of them portraying their dynamics very well.
Who makes The Bads of Bollywood?
This show is produced by Gauri Khan under Red Chillies Entertainment and is being co-created by Aryan Khan, Bilal Siddiqi, and Manav Chauhan, who also write for the show. Red Chillies Entertainment has a successful track record in association with Netflix, making the show an even more significant prospect.
How important is this show to Aryan Khan’s career?
Shah Rukh Khan has been a guiding force in Aryan Khan’s career, supporting and guiding him. Though Aryan has taken a different route in direction and writing, Shah Rukh has been instrumental in pitching him to Netflix and ensuring that he gets the right opportunities to succeed in the entertainment industry.
When is The Bads of Bollywood coming out?
Although there is no official release date for The Ba*ds of Bollywood, the teaser has already created a buzz among the fans. Stay tuned for more updates from Red Chillies Entertainment and Netflix regarding the show’s release date.
Now that this film has been unveiled in the recent Netflix event, everyone is pretty excited and intrigued about it. With Aryan Khan creating his own legacy in the world of Bollywood, it is very evident that the future is quite promising for the Khan family, both on screen and off.
