What happens behind the glitzy-glam lives of Bollywood, is it all a bed of roses for the actors? A question that all film lovers are always curious about. The B***ds Of Bollywood may answer some of those, and this 7-episode series comes from debutante director Aryan Khan. The show is a dig on the various aspects of the film industry, the much-talked-about insider-outsider debate, stardom, nepotism, and everything told through the story of a rising star, Aasman Singh. The show is overloaded with cameos, some of which were already revealed. But was it worth all the hype? Give this quick review a read to decide for yourself!
Plot
Aasman Singh (Lakshya) is a rising star who is one film, but that has brought him overnight success. The story proceeds to tell us how Aasman Singh struggles between contracts and the politics of the production house, the image in media, and the constant pushback from the insiders who keep creating hurdles for him. Amid this, Aasman crosses paths with Karishma Talvar (Sahher Bambba), the daughter of superstar Ajay Talvar (Bobby Deol), and through Karishma’s character, the nepo kid plot comes into play. Karan Johar as himself is also a significant part of the plot. Mona Singh plays Aasman’s mother while Manoj Pahwa plays his uncle. Manish Chaudhary is also the owner of a big production house. Raghav Juyal is seen in the role of Aasman’s best friend Parvaiz, and Anya Singh as his manager. The show is a bold POV on what goes on behind the scenes, and is not very complicated. It’s a satire and dig on the whole industry!
Performances (In Order Of How I Liked)
Raghav Juyal as the funny,, quirky best friends works big time in the series to keep us hooked. The actor is just on fire throughout the series, and he blends in so well with the cameos that the chemistry feels effortless. The actor is absolutely a riot with his punchlines and comic timings. Undoubtedly, Raghav Juyal has been a delight to watch in The Ba***ds Of Bollywood!
Manoj Pahwa is another entertaining part about the show. He casually delivers dialogues that make the moment unintentionally funny. As an uncle and a struggling musician, the actor balances out the emotions really well!
Mona Singh is simply natural in the role of caring, grieving mother who just wants the best for her child. While there is not much of arc in her character, but in every scene, the actor is convincing.
Lakshya as Aasman Singh yet again shows the qualities of a good actor. He perfectly blends with the character and shines in moments of actions. However, the character and writing gives him very little space to do something extraordinary in the series, but he does have a charming screen-presence!
Bobby Deol is just the right fit for the role of superstar Ajay Talvar. The actor has the attitude, appeal and aura for this character. Manish Chaudhary is another excellent actor in the series, and so is Rajat Bedi. Sahher Bambba and Anya Singh in their respective roles are also impressive.
The Cameos
A handful of cameos in the series make for some memorable moments in The Ba***ds Of Bollywood, and I found myself genuinely smiling at them. Although some which we hopes for like the three khans does not land well, and are forgettable.
Also Read: Karan Johar Called Kajol A Few Times To Launch Nysa Devgan. Here’s What Happened
Good For Ambient Viewing
The Ba***ds Of Bollywood also feels best for ambient viewing in some moments when the story goes absurd, and feels stretched. When there are no digs or satire on Bollywood or the industry, those are the weak plot of the series. Also, the show does not have a very strong storyline at its core. Some sub-plots like the dig on media, the entire KJo story, and underworld angle, and Aasman Singh’s personal life is left undercooked and misses out to create any kind of impact. Not many emotions can be associated to the show!
Verdict: One-Time Watch
It’s safe to say that Aryan Khan has shown the potential as a director by creating a show that has elements to keep us engaged. However, from the story POV, The Ba***ds Of Bollywood is weak and flawed. The drama, satire, action, fun, is there but when not that, it lacks substance. The performances are convincing. It’s currently streaming on Netflix.