“Positive Response” : Supreme Court Order Prompts Filmmakers To Scrap “Ghooskhor Pandat” Title

Mumbai: Filmmaker Neeraj Pandey and his production team have officially withdrawn the contentious title Ghooskhor Pandat from their upcoming Netflix film, following a directive from the Supreme Court of India. Pandey filed an affidavit in the apex court on February 19, confirming that the original title has been “unequivocally withdrawn” and will not be used in any form in connection with the movie’s promotion or release. The film, which stars Manoj Bajpayee and others, had faced legal challenges and public objections over its original name, prompting judicial scrutiny.

After accepting the “positive” response from filmmaker Neeraj Pandey, who undertook to withdraw the title of the film Ghooskhor Pandit, the Supreme Court of India disposed of the issue, stating that it expects the matter to now be put to a quietus.

Noting the submissions made by… pic.twitter.com/xiGkx0wzfP

— ANI (@ANI) February 19, 2026

In his submission to the Supreme Court, Pandey stated that all promotional content, including trailers, posters and publicity material featuring the withdrawn title, has already been taken down from public platforms. While a new title has yet to be finalised, he assured the court that it will be chosen in a way that does not resemble or evoke the previous title and accurately reflects the film’s narrative without inviting unintended interpretations or offence. The affidavit also emphasised that the movie is a fictional police drama centered on a criminal investigation, and is not intended to portray or demean any caste, religion, community or sect.

The Supreme Court had earlier voiced strong criticism over the title Ghooskhor Pandat, observing that freedom of expression under the Constitution does not permit language that could denigrate a section of society. Noting the submissions made by the parties appearing before it, a Bench of Justices B. V. Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan also urged YouTubers to put a quietus to the controversy. “They have now responded positively,” the Court noted.

The judges had directed Pandey and other respondents, including the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and the Union government, to ensure the title was changed before the film’s release. After recording the undertaking and seeing compliance with the court’s directions, the bench disposed of the petition challenging the title, with the matter expected to be resolved once a suitable new name is placed on record.

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