Manoj Bajpayee’s Netflix series ‘Ghooskhor Pandat’ will be renamed after nationwide protests and FIRs over its title. The makers acted following court petitions, social media backlash, and pressure from the Brahmin community.
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The Netflix series ‘Ghooskhor Pandat’ has suddenly become talk of the town not for its story, but for its title. Social media erupted after the reveal with critics slamming the series for allegedly hurting the Brahmin community. The controversy grew so intense that the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) even demanded a ban. And now, the makers have decided to act.
In a major update, the team behind the Manoj Bajpayee starrer informed the Delhi High Court that they will change the show’s name.
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This comes after multiple FIRs, rising social media pressure, calls for a ban from across the country. A writ petition has also been filed in court arguing that the title and promotional content are defamatory and communally sensitive.
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The uproar isn’t limited to Delhi. In Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, political protests have erupted. Brahmin organisations are demanding a ban accusing the series of targeting a particular community.
FIRs have been lodged against the director, effigies of the filmmakers and Manoj Bajpayee were burnt in several towns.
At the heart of the controversy is the title itself, ‘Ghooskhor Pandat’, which loosely translates to “Corrupt Pandit”.
Manoj Bajpayee took to social media to address the controversy. “When something you are part of causes hurt, it makes you pause and listen,” he wrote.
Bajpayee clarified that his choice to work on the project due to the character’s arc and not meant as a commentary on any community.
He added that the team had already removed promotional material in light of public sentiment.
Director Neeraj Pandey, along with co-writer Ritesh Shah, also responded on Instagram. He emphasised that the series is a fictional cop drama, and the word ‘Pandat’ was a colloquial name for a fictional character.
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Pandey stated that the story revolves around an individual’s actions and choices and does not reflect or comment on any caste, religion, or community.
The production team stressed that they voluntarily withdrew the promotional material even before any government directive came into play.
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