The Bastards of Bollywood: Aryan Khan's Bold Step or Just Another Nepotism Project?

 

Okay, full disclosure: I was late to the party. While everyone on Insta and Twitter was already memeing the hell out of The Bastards of Bollywood, I was busy pretending to fix my life (spoiler: didn’t happen).

But yesterday, I caved. 

Too many reels, too many tweets, and way too many hot takes. So I told myself, “Fine, let’s see if Aryan Khan is giving brain-rot vibes or actual brilliance.”

And plot twist: I had no idea Aryan wasn’t even acting. 

Bro went full Karan Johar-meets-Zoya Akhtar energy and stepped behind the camera to direct and produce. Didn’t see that one coming.

The Aryan Khan Surprise: Nepotism, Yes, But He’s Doing It Differently

Let’s be real. Nepotism and Bollywood go together like Manish Malhotra's lehengas and big, fat weddings. So when I first heard Aryan’s name, I thought he’d debut like every other star kid: hero pose, romantic track, maybe a rain dance scene if we were unlucky.

But nope. Aryan Khan said “main character energy” can wait, and chose to create instead. Respect. Because star kids usually just show up with six-pack abs and a dramatic slow-mo intro. Aryan? He’s giving us a creative vision.

And honestly, if you’re still clutching your pearls about nepotism, come on. If any of us had Shah Rukh Khan’s last name, we’d be milking it harder than Dharma Productions milks love triangles. The difference is Aryan isn’t just cashing in, he’s experimenting. That’s worth a golf clap.

The Show Itself: A Roller Coaster of Brain Rot and Genius

So what’s the vibe? Imagine if Sacred Games and Comedy Nights with Kapil had a chaotic child, and then raised it on Twitter memes. That’s this show.

It’s not deep cinema. It’s not trying to be Gangs of Wasseypur. But it is messy, absurd, and so unhinged that you’ll be cackling at 2 a.m., wondering, “Why am I emotionally invested in an idli sambar scene?”

(I KNOW I WAS.)

And the best part? The show knows it’s absurd. It’s self-aware. That whole “idli sambar vs intellectual talk” moment? Peak Gen-Z satire. It’s poking fun at elitist nonsense while also being hilarious. Chef’s kiss.

The Characters: Who Stole the Show?

Listen, the characters aren’t giving Shakespeare. 

Nobody’s winning a Filmfare for nuanced writing here. But Shaumik? That man ate. He’s ridiculous and yet so relatable. His sarcasm has the same energy as when your bestie roasts you mid-breakdown: painful but hilarious.

He steals every scene. The way he delivers lines? Almost Ranveer Singh-level chaotic. Everyone else plays their Bollywood stereotypes with a twist, but Shaumik is the heart. Like, if you mute him, the show collapses. Period.

Also, MAJOR shoutout to Raghav, dude. Didn’t expect him to pop off like that but he ate, left no crumbs, packed them in a tiffin, and handed them back.

The Visuals: Cinematic Vibes or Just Another Bollywood Gimmick?

Bollywood kids have budgets, and Aryan made sure we knew it. The cinematography? Slicker than a Dharma film wedding sequence. Sets? Flashy, over-the-top, and low-key telling you, “Yeah, we know it’s extra, but so are you.”

It’s not just aesthetic for the sake of aesthetics, though; it adds to the chaos. The exaggerated shots, the over-dramatic close-ups, the energy of it all. Think Sanjay Leela Bhansali on caffeine.

Cameos & Easter Eggs: The Salman-Shah Rukh Showdown

This one had Twitter shaking. Episode 4. Salman Khan. Mic drop.

Bollywood thrives on meta moments, and Aryan knew exactly what he was doing. Shah Rukh vs Salman is basically the Coke vs Pepsi of Bollywood beef. So when Salman popped up, it wasn’t about the plot. 

It was about sending the internet into a collective meltdown. And honestly? It worked.

For the Bollywood Nerds Like Me: This Show Was Pure Candy

Okay, now let me put on my “I eat, sleep, breathe, and literally live Bollywood” hat because this part? This part was a treat. The references in The Bastards of Bollywood had me SCREAMING.

Like, that roundtable callback? If you know, you know. Ananya Panday vs Siddhant Chaturvedi, when Siddhant dropped the iconic “inka struggle jahan shuru hota hai, wahan humare sapne pure hote hai.” Dapper. Chills. Still one of the cleanest reality checks ever given on camera, and Aryan sneaking that into the script? 10/10.

Then there’s the whole Rocky Randhawa nod (hi, Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani) and the sly Gully Boy homage. Bro, it’s like Aryan made a meme collage of all the best pop culture moments of the last decade and stitched it into this show.

And don’t even get me started on the killer twist at the end. My jaw? On the floor. My brain? Rattling. My soul? Still processing. This show is going to live rent-free in my head for so, so, so long.

Oh and the reel I just saw? SRK himself saying he didn’t use any contacts for Aryan, and that all the cameos happened because people genuinely love the kid. Like wow. Imagine being so liked that Salman Khan casually shows up in your debut project for free. Couldn’t be me.

Meanwhile, I’m here wishing I was a nepo baby so I didn’t have to grind writing blogs for an audience of zero 😭😭 because HELLO?? If y’all ever actually read my blogs, you’d know I’m GOOD. Like… give me a budget and watch me cook.

The Soundtrack: Does It Add to the Madness?

Music in this show isn’t here to be a Spotify top hit. It’s chaotic, meme-worthy, and perfectly synced to the madness. The background score almost feels like the show’s inner voice going, “What the hell is happening? But also, keep watching.”

No Tum Hi Ho moment here. Just pure, messy energy.

Aryan Khan’s Future: Is He the Next Big Director in Bollywood?

Hot take: Aryan Khan could actually pull a Farhan Akhtar. Not saying he’ll direct Dil Chahta Hai 2 anytime soon, but he’s got vision.

If he keeps experimenting and doesn’t slip into formulaic Bollywood, he could build his own space. Right now, he’s not trying to be “SRK ka beta,” he’s trying to be Aryan-the-creator. And that’s refreshing.

Criticism: Is the Show Perfect? Nope, But It’s Damn Entertaining

Yes, the pacing stumbles. Yes, some jokes land like Govinda’s dad jokes in 2025. But let’s be real, you’re not here for layered storytelling. You’re here for chaos, satire, and a show that doesn’t take itself too seriously.

And that’s exactly what it delivers. 

Sometimes, brain rot is exactly what the doctor ordered.

Final Thoughts: Is It Worth the Hype?

Here’s the thing: Aryan Khan didn’t just drop a show, he dropped a cultural reset. He spoke directly to Gen Z, and he knew exactly what trends, what sparks conversation, and what keeps the internet up at 3 a.m.

From making sly drug jabs and literally casting the lookalike of the very officer who arrested him (the audacity, I stan 👏🏻), to poking at Bollywood’s problematic bits. 

He nailed the formula.

And clearly, it’s working. My entire feed is just memes, reels, and references from The Bastards of Bollywood, with people eating it up and asking for seconds. Honestly? I couldn’t be happier. Because for once, Bollywood isn’t trying to lecture us; it’s laughing with us. 

And Aryan executed that energy perfectly.