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New Delhi: Manoj Bajpayee faces heat over his upcoming Netflix film Ghooskhor Pandat. The title has sparked outrage, with many calling it an insult to the pandit community.

Fans and leaders are upset, leading to legal notices, FIRs, and pulled promos. What did the actor say? Is it all a big misunderstanding? Read on for the full drama.

 Manoj Bajpayee addresses backlash

Actor Manoj Bajpayee has spoken out on the controversy around Ghooskhor Pandat. He stressed respect for public feelings and said the story is about one flawed character, not any community. Replying to producer Neeraj Pandey’s note, Manoj Bajpayee 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”.

 Character and intent explained

Manoj Bajpayee plays Ajay Dikshit, a corrupt cop nicknamed ‘Pandat’ in this fictional drama. He clarified, “As an actor, I come to a film through the character and the story I am playing. For me, this was about portraying a flawed individual and his journey of self-realisation. This was not meant to be a statement about any community”. The film unfolds over one night and also stars Nushrratt Bharuccha and Saqib Saleem.

 Producer’s quick response

Neeraj Pandey backed this up in his statement. He said, “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”. Pandey added that he approaches work with responsibility to tell thoughtful stories. The team has removed all promotional material from social media due to the backlash.

Row escalates with FIR

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ordered an FIR against the director and team. The complaint claims the content hurts sentiments and disturbs harmony. It all began after the teaser dropped at Netflix’s ‘Next on Netflix’ event.

 Legal notice sparks fire

Mumbai lawyer Ashutosh Dubey sent a notice to Netflix and the makers. He objected to Ghooskhor Pandat, saying ‘ghooskhor’ (bribe-taker) with ‘Pandat’ (priest) defames the pandit community. Bajpayee praised Pandey’s care in filmmaking and supported pulling promos: “This reflects the seriousness with which the concerns are being taken”.