Neeraj Pandey breaks silence on Ghooskhor Pandat row: ‘Have taken down all promotional materials'

Neeraj Pandey, Manoj Bajpayee

Netflix India's upcoming film Ghooskhor Pandat, starring Manoj Bajpayee, has found itself at the centre of controversy. Several petitions have been filed against the makers, alleging that the title and proposed content are defamatory and communally offensive. As the troubles continue to mount, filmmaker Neeraj Pandey has issued an official statement, clarifying that the title does not intend to hurt anyone.

Neeraj Pandey on Ghooskhor Pandat controversy

In the statement, Neeraj Pandey clarified that Ghooskhor Pandat is a fictional cop drama with no reference to any community. He wrote, "Our film is a fictional cop drama, and the term ‘Pandat' is used simply as a colloquial name for a fictional character. The story focuses on an individual's actions and choices and does not comment on or represent any caste, religion, or community. As a filmmaker, I approach my work with a deep sense of responsibility - to tell stories that are thoughtful and respectful. This film, like my earlier work, has been created with sincere intent and solely to entertain audiences."

Acknowledging the hurt caused, he announced that all promotional material has been temporarily withdrawn. "We understand that the title of the film has caused hurt to some viewers, and we genuinely acknowledge those feelings. In light of these concerns, we have decided to take down all promotional materials 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 judged on partial glimpses. I look forward to sharing the film with audiences soon."

About Ghooskhor Pandat title row

Mumbai-based advocate Ashutosh Dubey has sent a legal notice to Netflix and the film's makers, demanding that the title be withdrawn immediately. In the notice, he described the title as "defamatory, community-vilifying, unconstitutional, and socially incendiary." He argued that pairing a term associated with bribery with the word "Pandit," which he said is "deeply rooted in Indian civilisation" and traditionally represents scholarship, spiritual authority, ethical conduct, and social respect, unfairly links "criminality and moral depravity" to a respected community identity.

The story of Netflix's crime thriller Ghooskhor Pandat follows a corrupt police officer whose plans for a lucrative and eventful night are disrupted when he finds himself caught in the middle of a global conspiracy. The film also features Nushrratt Bharuccha and Saqib Saleem in key roles.