Bollywood royalty welcomed its next-generation storyteller on Wednesday night, as Shah Rukh Khan introduced his son Aryan Khan to the world - not as an actor, but as a filmmaker. The occasion was the grand preview of Aryan's debut Netflix series, The Ba**ds of Bollywood, held at Yash Raj Studios in Mumbai.

The event, packed with the industry's biggest names, saw Shah Rukh take on the role of host, his trademark humour and charm lighting up the evening. But beyond the laughs, it was the emotional introduction of Aryan as a director that proved to be the night's defining moment.

Shah Rukh spoke with raw vulnerability about watching his son step into the world of cinema.

“I'm deeply grateful to the sacred land of Mumbai, to this country, which has given me 30 years to try and entertain you. Today is a very special day, because on this very same land, my son is now taking his first step. He's a very good boy, as all fathers believe about their sons, and he's hardworking... Giving your 100% through hard work, that's the one guarantee you can control. So today, when he stands before you, please clap for him. But along with those claps, send him a small prayer too.”

The superstar ended with a heartfelt wish that Aryan might receive even a fraction of the love and support audiences have showered on him throughout his career.

For Aryan, the evening marked his first-ever media interaction. Nervous but witty, the 27-year-old director admitted to rehearsing his speech for days, armed with both a teleprompter and a hard copy of his notes -“just in case there's a power outage.”

He added: "And if I still mess up, my dad is here. And if even after all that I make a mistake, please forgive me, this is my first time.”

His candour, as seen in SRK himself, drew laughter, but his words soon shifted to the heart of his project:

“With this show, the only intention was to entertain people all across the world. After four years of hard work, endless discussions, and thousands of takes, the show is finally ready.”

The Ba***ds of Bollywood is pitched as an irreverent, self-aware look at the chaos and contradictions of India's film industry. The preview showcased cameo appearances by Salman Khan, Karan Johar, and Ranveer Singh, each adding to the show's playful skewering of Bollywood's excesses.

In a bold move, Aryan even referenced his own past controversies - including his jail time - folding real-life headlines into the show's satirical narrative.

The series features an eclectic cast including Lakshya, Bobby Deol, Raghav Juyal, Sahher Bambba, Manoj Pahwa, Gautami Kapoor, Mona Singh, and Rajat Bedi. Produced by Red Chillies Entertainment, the project is a collaboration between Aryan Khan, Bilal Siddiqi, and Manav Chauhan, who serve as co-creators, directors, and writers.

The Ba***ds of Bollywood premieres globally on Netflix on September 18, marking Aryan Khan's official arrival as a filmmaker in one of the world's most-watched entertainment industries.

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