4 minutes of readingNew DelhiUpdated: Feb 10, 2026 06:36 pm IST
Manoj Bajpayee’s film Ghooskhor Pandat has been making news for all the wrong reasons since its trailer was released. The Netflix film, directed by Neeraj Pandey, drew harsh criticism for its title, which many called offensive and communally insensitive. As outrage grew, promotional material for the film was removed from online platforms.
Ghooskhor Pandat creators to change title
A written petition was filed in the Delhi The High Court seeks to stop the proposed release of the film. The petition maintains that both the title and promotional content are defamatory and could inflame community sensitivities. He also claims that the title is offensive and targets a specific community.
In the latest development, the makers of the film have reportedly informed the Delhi High Court that they have taken a conscious decision to change the title of the film.
FIR against Ghooskhor Pandat
A police complaint has also been registered in Lucknowof Hazratganj police station against the director and his team. The complaint accuses the filmmakers of trying to spread social discord, hurting religion and caste sentiments. According to the complaint, the title insults a particular community by associating the term “Pandat” with corruption.
Neeraj Pandey and Manoj Bajpayee react to the backlash
Address the reaction, Neeraj Pandey issued a statement on Friday recognizing that the title had harmed a sector of viewers. He wrote: “Our film is a fictional police drama, and the term ‘Pandat’ is simply used as a colloquial name for a fictional character. The story focuses on the actions and choices of an individual and does not comment on or represent any caste, religion or community… We understand that the title of the film has caused pain to some viewers, and we genuinely acknowledge those feelings. In light of these concerns, we have decided to withdraw all promotional material for the time being, as we believe the film should be experienced in its entirety and “understood in the context of the story we intended to tell, rather than judging it by partial glimpses. We look forward to sharing the film with audiences soon.”
Manoj Bajpayee also broke his silence on social media and said he respected the concerns raised. He wrote: “I respect the emotions and concerns that people have shared, and I take them seriously. When something you are a part of causes harm to some people, it makes you stop and listen. As an actor, I come to a film through the character and the story that I am playing. For me, it was about portraying an imperfect individual and his journey of self-realization. This was not intended to be a statement about any community. In my experience working with Neeraj Pandey, there has been a seriousness and constant care in the way they approach their films. The filmmakers have decided to withdraw promotional material, in light of public sentiment.
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Protests in all cities
Even as manufacturers attempted to control the damage, protests intensified on the ground. In BhopalAkhil Bhartiya Brahmin Samaj protesters raised banners demanding action against the filmmakers and the streaming platform.
In Prayagraj, members of the Rashtriya Parshuram Sena burnt effigies of Neeraj Pandey and Manoj Bajpayee at Subhash Chowk in Civil Lines.
FWICE criticizes the film’s title
The controversy has also provoked a response from Federation of Western India Cinema Employees (FWICE), which raised strong objections to the film’s title.. In a statement, the agency warned that such movie titles could hurt sentiments and disrupt social harmony.
The letter said that if corrective measures were not taken, FWICE would be forced to advise its affiliated associations and members to distance themselves from the projects of the producer in question.