Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has vehemently denied allegations of a “paid review” after publicly praising the Netflix series ‘The Bads of Bollywood’. A social media user accused Tharoor of engaging in a new side business.
Tharoor swiftly responded to the accusation on X (formerly Twitter). He stated, “I’m not for sale, my friend. No opinion I express has ever been paid for by anybody, in cash or in kind.” This direct rebuttal clarifies his position.
. I’m not for sale, my friend. No opinion I express has ever been paid for by anybody, in cash or in kind.
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) October 27, 2025
The controversy began when Tharoor shared his thoughts on Aryan Khan’s directorial debut on October 26. He lauded the series, tagging Shah Rukh Khan’s account and suggesting he should be proud of his son’s work.
Tharoor described the Netflix series as “OTT gold.” He praised its gradual ability to captivate viewers and noted its “honesty and frankness,” which he felt was a rare sight in contemporary Bollywood productions.
I’ve been battling a cold & cough and cancelled engagements for two days. My staff and my sister, @smitatharoor, persuaded me to turn my eyes away from the computer part of the time towards a @NetflixIndia series, and it’s one of the best things I have ever treated myself to:… pic.twitter.com/xRUHv8ERTB
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) October 26, 2025
The series features a cast including Bobby Deol, Lakshya Lalwani, Raghav Juyal, Sahar Bamba, Anya Singh, and Manoj Pahwa. Notable cameo appearances are made by Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, Ranveer Singh, Disha Patani, and S.S. Rajamouli.