Sameer Wankhede says he ‘won’t tolerate’ mocking officers who risk lives; recalls daughter asking if ‘holding a cigarette will make me strong’ after seeing film poster

The IRS officer recalled, “10-12 days ago, while we (Sameer, his wife and daughter) were driving near the Mumbai airport, we saw a large billboard for a recent movie. I don’t remember its name. It featured a shirtless young actor, looking like a funny man, holding a cigarette. My six-year-old daughter asked me, ‘Papa, will I also become strong if I hold a cigarette like him?’ This is the kind of notion that they propagate. Are you trying to push this 20% (young population) to abuse? No. We need to make our nation strong. We are travelling in a fast speed from being a developing country to a developed country.”

When asked if the poster belonged to director Mohit Suri’s blockbuster musical romantic drama Saiyaara, Sameer Wankhede replied, “I don’t know; I don’t recollect the name of the movie.” Featuring Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda in the lead roles, the film currently ranks as the third-highest-grossing Indian film of 2025.

During the conversation, he also made a veiled attack on Aryan Khan’s satirical action-comedy series The Ba***ds of Bollywood for allegedly making fun of anti-drug enforcement agencies. “Sometimes I find it funny that certain people mock these officers and their operations. They should introspect at times. If they’re so eager to make fun of something, they should do it with their family and friends; not with those who risk their lives (in the line of duty). This is very demoralising for the officers. I often see people mocking police officers or claiming that they are all corrupt. How long will this go on? I will not tolerate this kind of nonsense,” he added.

Late last month, Sameer Wankhede moved the Delhi High Court with a defamation suit seeking an injunction and damages for the “misleading” and “negative” portrayal of anti-drug enforcement agencies in The Ba***ds of Bollywood. He also objected to references made in the series to Aryan’s NCB case, which is still sub judice. A fortnight ago, the HC issued summons and notices to Netflix, Red Chillies Entertainment and others in the defamation suit.