'When did Shah Rukh Khan decide Bollywood is a gutter?’: Viveck Vaswani questions Aryan Khan’s The Ba***ds of Bollywood

Before Shah Rukh Khan became one of the biggest stars in the world, he was a newcomer in Mumbai with nothing but dreams. Back then, it was actor-producer Viveck Vaswani who offered him shelter and support — something SRK has often acknowledged over the years.

Now, as Shah Rukh turned 60, Vaswani has shared his honest reaction to Aryan Khan’s debut series The Ba***ds of Bollywood, expressing disappointment with how the film industry was portrayed.


Speaking to Radio Nasha Official, Vaswani said, “When Shah Rukh came into the industry, the amount of love and respect that Aziz Mirza and Nirmala gave him, and that me and my mother gave him, and Saeed Mirza gave him... everyone treated him with so much affection. So when did he come to the conclusion that Bollywood is a gutter and everyone in it is bad people? He is the one person who was treated with kid gloves as a rank outsider.”

‘SRK never struggled on the streets’

Vaswani recalled how warmly SRK was embraced when he arrived in Mumbai.

“Not once did he struggle from the road. He was living in Cuffe Parade. After he got married, when he couldn’t stay in my house, Aziz gave him a house in Bandra. Haroon treated him like a brother, Aziz’s son. Raheela treated him like a brother, Aziz’s daughter. I treated him like a brother. Everyone treated him so well, so warmly, without a single rift.”

“Maybe I am the only one in the country who may have felt like this, but I am also the only one whose house he lived in for two years. Toh haq banta hai to say: Why did you think we were a bad industry? Why did you personally think that everyone was bad? Why was there not one redeeming character in the show? Someone who says — yes, maybe everything is bad, but there are also some good, decent human beings here. And he is living proof of that.”

‘Did I do something wrong?’

The veteran actor admitted the show made him introspect.

“I just thought, did I do something wrong? Am I to blame? Did I hurt him enough for him to think Bollywood is such a bad place? Because when a boy has been given VIP treatment by the industry, being a non–nepo kid, everyone gave him work and respect. He didn’t let them down either. He worked hard. But why such a portrayal? This is my industry. If India is my janam-bhoomi, then Bollywood is my karam-bhoomi. But then it is Shah Rukh’s karam-bhoomi as well.”

‘Maybe Shah Rukh won’t agree with me’

Vaswani said he understood his opinion might not be shared by others.

“To show your karam-bhoomi in that way, I thought that was a little sad. Everyone has loved the show. Nobody will agree with my point of view. Shah Rukh will not agree with my point of view. But you asked me for the truth. And I felt a little sad.”

Even so, Vaswani praised the performances in Aryan’s show.

“I binge-watched it. I enjoyed the show. The cameos were fabulous. Emraan Hashmi was absolutely superb. And I was very pleasantly surprised by Bobby Deol’s performance.”

Shah Rukh Khan’s next: King

Meanwhile, on the work front, Shah Rukh Khan is set to collaborate with Siddharth Anand for his next action drama titled King. The first look, unveiled on SRK’s 60th birthday, has already created massive buzz among fans and the industry.