Why Aryan Khan's The Ba***ds of Bollywood finale feels like a page out of Dulquer Salmaan's Solo playbook

The Ba***ds of Bollywood, Netflix's latest original series, concluded its first season with a shocking revelation. In case you have watched Bejoy Nambiar’s 2017 film Solo, this twist will instantly take you to the plot twist in the film. A late revelation that turns the central love story into an incestuous relationship is the disturbing sting that closes both stories.

Aasmaan's love story turns into a taboo

The Ba***ds of Bollywood concludes with Aasmaan's (Lakshya) mother, Neeta (Mona Singh), bringing out a long-kept secret—that Aasmaan's biological father is Ajay Talvar (Bobby Deol), the legendary superstar. This revelation redefines his passionate relationship with Karishma (Sahher Bammba), reframing it as one between half-siblings. What was previously positioned as a star-crossed love story suddenly becomes morally fraught, leaving audiences stunned to the core.

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Disturbing parallel with Solo

The setup is frighteningly similar to what people who watched Solo would recognise. In the last section of the anthology, World of Rudra, the main character (Dulquer Salmaan) finds out that his lover, Akshara (Neha Sharma), is actually his half-sister, a consequence of his father's extramarital affair. The audience is taken aback by this discovery, which turns romantic desire into an inappropriate bond. Nambiar eventually explained his intentions, but the twist was so divisive at the time that it changed the film's climax in several regional editions.

The two pieces share a narrative device—a late parentage reveal—that reclassifies a close connection as incest, despite their distinct tones. Both situations make the viewer feel even more shocked and uneasy by making them rethink previous events. The device is deliberately destabilising; it is designed to provoke debate rather than offer cathartic closure.

Solo's twist

When Solo used the twist as a dramatic shift within its mythically inspired structure, it shocked fans who had invested in Rudra's romance. The revelation provided insights into fate, obsession, and predetermined outcomes.

Meanwhile, The Ba***ds of Bollywood couches the same device in satire. Not only does the incest revelation shed light on the fatal love of two characters, but it also sheds light on the cyclical nature of dynastic privilege, hidden affairs, and complex legacies within Bollywood. As a commentary on how the intimate entanglements of the industry frequently seep into its public face, the series turns a romance into a taboo.

Audience reactions

Much like with Solo, the conclusion of The Ba***ds of Bollywood has gotten interesting reactions on the Internet. The twist has maintained the series' prominence, much like Solo did in 2017.

This storytelling tactic keeps popping up, which means Indian filmmakers aren't afraid to tackle difficult topics or shake up traditional storylines. Solo and The Ba***ds of Bollywood both use revelations to turn romance into incest, which makes viewers uncomfortable and forces them to rethink love, family, and destiny. Whether viewed as daring experiments or manipulative shock, the conclusions guarantee discussion, which may have been the intended goal.

FAQs:

Q: What is the twist in Netflix’s The Ba***ds of Bollywood?

A: The finale reveals that Aasmaan’s biological father is Ajay Talwar, which means his love interest Karishma is actually his half-sister. This parentage twist turns their romance into an incestuous relationship.

Q: How is The Ba***ds of Bollywood similar to Bejoy Nambiar’s Solo?

A: Both stories end with a shocking parentage reveal that transforms a central love story into incest. In Solo’s World of Rudra, Rudra learns that his lover Akshara is his half-sister, while in The Ba***ds of Bollywood, Aasmaan and Karishma face the same taboo revelation.

Q: Why did Solo have a controversial ending?

A: Solo’s climax stirred controversy because it revealed Rudra and Akshara were half-siblings. The backlash was so strong that the film’s ending was altered in some versions, and director Bejoy Nambiar later addressed the confusion publicly.