Bollywood Star Ranbir Kapoor Embroiled in E-Cigarette Controversy

In September 2025, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed the Mumbai Police to take action against the makers of the popular web series 'The Badlands of Bollywood', the OTT platform Netflix, and actor Ranbir Kapoor. The NHRC's move comes in response to a scene depicting Kapoor using an e-cigarette, which the commission says violates the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act 2019.

Manish Chaudhari, who plays the pivotal role of Freddy Sodawallah in the series, has expressed his disappointment over the controversy. He states that it is "unfortunate" that this particular aspect is being focused on, as the show has received overwhelmingly positive feedback from audiences. Chaudhari emphasizes that 99.9% of the response to the series has been positive, and he is grateful for the audience's enthusiastic reception.

The actor also discusses the viral dialogue "Say no to drugs" featured in the show, which is followed by a mention of Aryan Khan as the director in the end credits. Chaudhari believes this message has resonated strongly with viewers, and he is proud of the immersive world that Aryan Khan has created, which has captivated the audience.

Despite the recent legal troubles, Manish Chaudhari is having an outstanding year in 2025, with the success of 'The Badlands of Bollywood' and other projects like 'Sky Force' and 'Aap Jaisa Koi'. The re-release of his 2006 film 'Sanam Teri Kasam' has also become a historic blockbuster. While there have been discussions about a sequel to 'Sanam Teri Kasam', Chaudhari reveals that he has not been approached for it yet. As for a second season of 'The Badlands of Bollywood', the actor confirms that there have been no talks about it so far.