Aryan Khan (son of Shah Rukh Khan) has made his directorial debut with the Netflix series The Ba**ds of Bollywood. At the Mumbai launch on August 20, Aryan admitted he was nervous about speaking to the media and said, “If something goes wrong, please forgive me. This is my first time.” The series (starring Sahher Bamba, Lakshya, and Bobby Deol) will stream on Netflix from September 18.
The launch also sparked comparisons online with Zoya Akhtar, who debuted as a director with the 2009 film Luck By Chance. Reddit users pointed out similarities and noted that both projects follow a newcomer navigating Bollywood, include family collaborations, and feature star-studded cameos.
Fans Compare Aryan Khan With Zoya Akhtar
While Luck By Chance is praised for its realistic and nuanced storytelling, many viewers feel the series directed by Aryan Khan takes a more flamboyant and fun approach. Some fans commented that The Ba**ds of Bollywood is “over the top” and “fun-focused,” unlike Zoya’s grounded take on stardom.
Check out some reactions below:
“Pls. Luck By Chance is an exceptional movie with a very, very nuanced take on stardom.”
“Yeah, there are similarities, but Zoya hit it out of the park with Luck By Chance.. The movie was not so much about the lead actor as it was about Sona’s character. It made the heartbreaking truth very clear that you can be the most hard working and talented actor on the planet, you can be overlooked entirely, and someone with the right ‘luck’ can make it big. Aryan seems to be all about irreverence and fun, and nothing is supposed to be taken seriously.”
“Zoya was showing a way more grounded story, while aryan is showing a fairytale for an outsider type approach and also just as he says in that promo “sab zyada hai” over the top. something more aligned to Farah’s brand.”
“I can vouch aryan’s series won’t be as good as Luck by Chance. Luck by chance had a lot of depth. This one doesn’t seem to get to the category; it doesn’t seem like aryan even has it in him to go there.”
“Yup. This show seems to be just an amped up, soulless version of Luck by Chance.”
Well, Aryan’s series has attracted attention thanks to its bold story and the Khan family connection. The show follows Aasman Singh (Lakshya), an outsider who lands a dream debut in Bollywood and soon faces the darker sides of fame and power. Backed by Shah Rukh Khan’s Red Chillies Entertainment, the series has already generated buzz among fans.
About Luck By Chance And The Ba***ds Of Bollywood
For those unaware, Zoya Akhtar’s Luck By Chance follows Vikram Jaisingh (Farhan Akhtar), an aspiring actor navigating the challenges of fame, ambition, and industry politics. It also tracks Sona Mishra (Konkona Sen Sharma), showing the struggles of newcomers in a competitive Bollywood world. The film focuses on identity, compromise, and the harsh realities behind Bollywood glamour.
In contrast, Aryan Khan-directed The Ba***ds of Bollywood takes a satirical and bold approach. While it touches on fame, ambition, and the film industry’s darker side, it is flashier and more exaggerated. With star-studded cameos and a voiceover by Shah Rukh Khan, the series promises a playful and over-the-top look at the world of Bollywood.
