Aryan Khan's The Bads of Bollywood debuts on Netflix amid praise

Aryan Khan, son of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, is drawing widespread attention and industry praise after his directorial debut, The Bads of Bollywood, premiered on Netflix on September 18 and quickly became a trending title. The seven-episode satirical series, produced by Red Chillies Entertainment with Gauri Khan among its producers, has been applauded for its bold tone, ensemble performances and surprise cameos, and several cast and industry figures have publicly praised Aryan and confirmed plans for a second season.

Cast members described an intense, hands-on process behind the scenes that, they say, undercuts recent rumors that someone else steered the production. Anya Singh, who plays manager Sanya and has emerged as a breakout performer, told reporters that speculation about a ghost director ignored Aryan’s visible leadership and long hours. "He has worked really hard on this project. From 7 in the morning to 11 PM, his energy never dropped," she said, adding that Aryan stuck to his vision by choosing young writers and technicians and keeping key creative decisions tightly controlled. Singh also said the series’ climax was kept secret from the cast until the day...