Last Updated:January 10, 2026, 20:06 IST

Gautami Kapoor reveals Aryan Khan’s perfectionist directing style on The Ba***ds of Bollywood, saying Bobby Deol often had to give 10–15 takes during intense shoots.

Gautami Kapoor has recalled how Aryan Khan’s perfectionist approach meant actors often had to give multiple takes, revealing that Bobby Deol sometimes got irritated after 10–15 retakes.

Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan has earned widespread appreciation for his debut series The B*ds of Bollywood. Among those impressed by Aryan’s work is actor Gautami Kapoor, who plays a pivotal role in the show. Opening up about her experience, Gautami spoke at length about Aryan’s clarity, confidence, and hands-on approach as a director, noting that his maturity stood out from day one.

‘The Clarity Was Staggering’

Speaking to Siddharth Kannan, Gautami recalled her first meeting with Aryan during the script reading. She admitted she was quietly observing him, curious to see how he would conduct himself in a room full of seasoned actors.

“During the reading of the show, that was the first time I met Aryan. We were 25 actors in a room. He came in, started the reading, and the clarity he had for each and every character—big or small—was staggering. My mouth was open. I was like, ‘Oh my God, at 24-25, he has this kind of clarity and maturity about a project that he has written and is going to direct,’” she said.

According to Gautami, Aryan’s vision was sharp and unwavering, leaving little doubt about his command over the material.

‘Every Single Thing Was Done By Aryan’

Addressing speculation around whether Aryan had ghost directors assisting him, Gautami firmly shut down the rumours. She stressed that Aryan was deeply involved in every aspect of the show’s execution.

“A lot of people asked, ‘Has Aryan directed it himself or has someone ghost-directed it?’ We shot for 20 hours. The way he has directed it—hats off to him. Let me be clear, each and everything done in the show is done by Aryan,” she said.

She added that Aryan didn’t just instruct actors verbally but often performed stunts himself to demonstrate exactly what he wanted. “So many of the stunts, he used to do it and show the actors,” she noted.

A Perfectionist On Set

Gautami also spoke about Aryan’s relentless pursuit of perfection, revealing that multiple takes were the norm on set. Even senior actors were expected to give their all.

“Aryan is a stickler for perfection. So it was never one or two takes—it was always 10 to 15 takes. We were all at it, whether it was Bobby Deol, Manoj Bawa, or anyone else,” she shared, adding that the intensity was demanding but ultimately rewarding.

Lessons In Humility From Shah Rukh Khan

Drawing parallels between Aryan’s upbringing and his father’s values, Gautami spoke fondly about Shah Rukh Khan and recalled a moment that left a lasting impression on her family.

“He is such a well-brought-up child. Every time I go to the Red Chillies office and Aryan is there, he would hug me and drop me to the lift,” she said.

Recounting a screening of the show’s first two episodes, Gautami shared how Shah Rukh personally escorted her daughter to the lift when she had to leave midway. “There was no need for him to do all that—he is Shah Rukh Khan. But he still got up, spoke to her about her studies, and walked her all the way. My daughter was trembling. There is so much to learn from these people,” she said.