A controversy has erupted around the upcoming Hindi film Ghooskhor Pandat, drawing sharp reactions from political leaders, social organisations, and social media users over its title, which has been accused of being casteist. The backlash intensified after the Uttar Pradesh Police registered an FIR against the film’s director following directions from Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
The film, produced by filmmaker Neeraj Pandey and starring Manoj Bajpayee, was announced earlier this week during a Netflix event in Mumbai. Soon after its teaser was released online, the title triggered widespread outrage, with critics alleging that it portrayed a particular community in a negative and stereotypical manner.
According to official sources, the FIR was lodged at the Hazratganj police station in Lucknow late Thursday night. The Uttar Pradesh government stated that the case was registered on charges of spreading social animosity, hurting religious and caste sentiments, and attempting to disturb public peace.
As the controversy escalated, a senior BJP leader confirmed that the Centre had instructed Netflix to remove the teaser and all promotional content related to the film from social media platforms. The leader said that any content perceived as offensive to a section of society was unacceptable and required immediate action. Netflix subsequently took down the promotional material.
Political reactions followed swiftly. Bahujan Samaj Party chief and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati demanded an immediate ban on the film, describing the situation as deeply distressing. In a post on X, she said that portraying the term “Pandit” in a derogatory context had caused widespread anger among the Brahmin community across the country and amounted to insult and disrespect.
The Vishva Hindu Parishad also condemned the film’s title. Its national spokesperson, Vinod Bansal, accused the filmmakers of targeting a respected segment of Hindu society and warned that continued attempts of this nature could lead to democratic protests.
Amid mounting pressure, Neeraj Pandey and Manoj Bajpayee issued separate statements acknowledging public sentiment and announcing that all promotional material related to the film had been withdrawn. Pandey clarified that the film is a fictional crime drama and that the term “Pandat” is used purely as a colloquial name for a fictional character, not as a reference to any caste or community.
Pandey said the story focuses on the actions and moral choices of an individual character and does not aim to comment on or represent any social group. He acknowledged that the title had hurt a section of the audience and stated that the decision to pull promotions was taken so the film could be understood in its full narrative context rather than judged on limited previews.
Manoj Bajpayee also responded to the controversy, saying he respects the emotions and concerns expressed by viewers. He explained that his role involved portraying a flawed individual and his journey, and that the film was never intended to make a statement about any community. Bajpayee added that the withdrawal of promotional content reflected the seriousness with which the concerns were being addressed.
The matter has also reached national institutions. The National Human Rights Commission has issued a notice to the Information and Broadcasting Ministry after receiving a complaint alleging that the film’s title promotes negative stereotypes and vilifies a recognised social group.
Ghooskhor Pandat is a crime thriller directed by Ritesh Shah and produced by Neeraj Pandey under his banner, Friday Filmworks. The story follows a corrupt police officer, Ajay Dikshit—also known as Pandat—whose plans unravel when he becomes entangled in a larger global conspiracy unfolding in Delhi. The film was slated for release on Netflix, though its future now remains uncertain amid ongoing developments.