"Bollywood Is A Gutter... ": SRK's Close Friend Reacts To Aryan Khan's Netflix Show

Before Shah Rukh Khan became one of India’s most beloved superstars, he arrived in Mumbai with little more than ambition and grit. In those formative years, actor, writer, and producer Viveck Vaswani played a pivotal role in SRK’s journey, offering him a place to stay and unwavering support. It’s a gesture Khan has publicly acknowledged many times over the decades. (Image: X) Now, as SRK celebrated his 60th birthday, Vaswani is looking back not only on their enduring friendship but also on Aryan Khan’s debut docuseries The Ba**d Boys of Bollywood*, which he found deeply troubling. Speaking to Radio Nasha Official, Vaswani expressed disappointment over the show’s portrayal of the film industry, especially given the warmth and respect Shah Rukh received as an outsider. (Image: Netflix) “When Shah Rukh entered the industry, he was showered with love—from Aziz Mirza, Nirmala, my mother, Saeed Mirza, and myself,” Vaswani said. “He was treated with kid gloves. So how did Aryan come to the conclusion that Bollywood is a gutter filled with bad people?” (Image: IMDb) Vaswani recounted how SRK never faced the kind of street-level struggle often associated with newcomers. “He lived in Cuffe Parade, and after marriage, Aziz gave him a home in Bandra. Everyone—from Haroon and Raheela to Aziz’s family—treated him like a brother. I gave him everything I could. So why portray the industry as entirely negative? Why not include even one redeeming character?” The veteran producer admitted the series made him introspect. “I wondered if I had done something wrong. Shah Rukh was a non-nepo kid from Delhi, and the industry embraced him. He worked hard and earned respect. So why such a bleak portrayal? This is my karam-bhoomi, and it’s Shah Rukh’s too.” Though Vaswani acknowledged that his views might not be widely shared, not even by SRK himself, he stood by his feelings. “Everyone loved the show. Shah Rukh may not agree with me. But you asked for the truth, and I felt sad. I binge-watched it. The cameos were fantastic. Emraan Hashmi was superb, and Bobby Deol’s performance was a pleasant surprise.” (Image: IMDb) Meanwhile, Shah Rukh Khan is gearing up for his next cinematic venture, King, directed by Siddharth Anand. The film’s first look, unveiled on his 60th birthday, has already ignited excitement across the industry and among fans. (Image: Instagram)