‘Ghooskhor Pandat’ not about any caste or community, will take down all promos: Neeraj Pandey

Acting on the directions of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the State Police on Friday (February 6, 2026) lodged an FIR against the makers of the upcoming Netflix film Ghooskhor Pandat over its title, alleging that the film threatens social harmony and hurts religious and caste sentiments, even as producer-director Neeraj Pandey issued a clarification, apologising for the hurt caused and taking down the teaser and promotional material. 

The FIR was registered at Lucknow’s Hazratganj police station, following widespread objections to the film’s teaser, which recently went viral on social media. The case names the OTT platform and the film’s makers for allegedly attempting to spread social discord and disturb public peace and law and order. 

The controversy erupted after a teaser of the film, starring Manoj Bajpayee as a corrupt police officer, was unveiled earlier this week at a Netflix event in Mumbai announcing upcoming titles. 

Various groups objected to the pairing of the words “Pandat” (Pandit) with “Ghooskhor” (bribe-taker), calling it derogatory and offensive. The issue snowballed amid allegations of bias against Brahmins in the State. 

Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati sought a ban on the film, saying in a social media post that it was a matter of great sorrow and concern that the term ”Pandit” was being portrayed as an infiltrator, not only in Uttar Pradesh, but now in cinema as well. 

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad also condemned the title. Its national spokesperson, Vinod Bansal, described it as “totally unacceptable” and called it an attack on “the most respectable segment of the Hindu society”. 

On Thursday (February 5, 2026), a petition was filed in the Delhi High Court alleging that the title defames the Brahmin community by associating the word “Pandat” with corruption and bribery.

The National Human Rights Commission also issued a notice to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting following a complaint claiming that the title promotes negative stereotypes and vilifies a recognised social group. 

Responding to the backlash, Mr. Pandey apologised for inadvertently hurting sentiments and announced that the teaser and promotional material would be taken down. Clarifying his intent on social media, Mr. Pandey, known for high-tension thrillers with nationalist undertones such as A Wednesday, Special 26, and Baby, said, “Our film is a fictional cop drama, and the term Pandat is simply 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.”  

Lead actor Manoj Bajpayee also took to social media, saying the film should not be viewed as a commentary on any community, adding that his role was limited to portraying a morally flawed individual in a fictional narrative. He further wrote, “I respect the emotions and concerns people have shared, and I take them seriously. When something you are part of causes hurt to some people, it makes you pause and listen.”

Meanwhile, industry bodies such as the Indian Motion Picture Producers’ Association (IMPPA) and the Film Makers Combine (FMC) flagged that the title had allegedly been used without proper registration or approval.