Veteran actor Manoj Bajpayee has spoken out following the controversy surrounding his upcoming Netflix project Ghooskhor Pandat, directed and produced by Neeraj Pandey. The film, announced as part of Netflix India’s 2026 slate, has drawn sharp criticism and legal action over its title, which some claim offends the Brahmin community by linking the term “Pandat” (a colloquial variant of “Pandit”) with “Ghooskhor,” a slang term implying corruption.
An FIR was registered at Hazratganj Police Station in Lucknow against Pandey and the film’s makers, alleging that the title and content hurt religious and caste sentiments while threatening public harmony. Police noted that the phrasing appeared deliberately designed to insult a specific community, particularly Brahmins, by associating the respected term with bribery and wrongdoing.
The backlash intensified after the project’s teaser release earlier this week, prompting swift responses from the creators. The National Human Rights Commission issued a notice to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting regarding the title’s alleged promotion of negative stereotypes and vilification of a social group. Additionally, a writ petition was filed in the Delhi High Court by Mahender Chaturvedi, through advocate Vineet Jindal, seeking a stay on the film’s release.
In response, director Neeraj Pandey issued a statement clarifying that Ghooskhor Pandat is a work of pure fiction—a cop drama centered on an individual’s actions, choices, and path to self-realization. He emphasized that the story does not comment on or represent any caste, religion, or community. Acknowledging the hurt caused by the title, Pandey confirmed that all promotional materials have been removed temporarily out of respect for public sentiment. He described “Pandat” as simply a colloquial nickname for the fictional character, not a reference to any group.
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Bajpayee, who plays the lead role of Ajay Dikshit, a corrupt police officer nicknamed Pandat whose night spirals into a global conspiracy in Delhi, shared Pandey’s statement on X and added his own perspective. He expressed respect for the emotions and concerns raised, stating that he takes them seriously. “When something you are part of causes hurt to some people, it makes you pause and listen,” Bajpayee wrote. He stressed that his involvement focused on portraying a flawed character’s journey, not making any statement about a community.
Bajpayee also highlighted Pandey’s careful approach to filmmaking, based on his experience working with the director. He noted the decision to pull promotional content as evidence of the team’s seriousness in addressing the issue.
The film remains in development, with no further updates on its status following these developments.
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