The Ba***ds of Bollywood continues to spark discussions long after its release. Viewers recently noticed a controversial subplot involving a rich young man, Shoumik, who falls for his maid, Pushpa, after mistreating her throughout the show.
Many fans believe this storyline subtly references the Shiney Ahuja case. The actor, known for Bhool Bhulaiyaa, Metro, and Woh Lamhe, was accused of raping his house help. Shoumik’s behaviour in the show reminded viewers of that real-life controversy.
The subplot has raised uncomfortable questions about Bollywood’s repeated sexualisation of domestic workers. Why does mainstream media still objectify maids and portray them as targets of male desire?
From Mirzapur to No Entry, Indian entertainment has often shown men fantasising about or exploiting house helps. In Mirzapur, Munna Bhaiya’s relationship with his maid was openly sexual. In No Entry, a maid was shown in revealing clothes for comic effect.
This pattern reveals a deeper issue the fetishisation of women from lower-income backgrounds. Such portrayals stem from power imbalances between employers and domestic workers, where authority, money, and class define desire and dominance.
Most maids come from financially vulnerable families. The media’s portrayal of them as “willing to do anything” reflects classist and misogynistic thinking, not reality. It turns systemic inequality into sexual fantasy.
The repeated use of such regressive tropes shows Bollywood’s unwillingness to break away from misogyny. By recycling these narratives, creators continue to normalise objectification instead of challenging it.
