Ghooskhor Pandat: Neeraj Pandey breaks silence on title row, issues clarification on Manoj Bajpayee’s upcoming cop drama

Neeraj Pandey’s upcoming cop drama film Ghooskhor Pandat has been making headlines after its announcement. The Netflix original movie was entangled in a title row as it faced severe backlash for its ‘defamatory title’ that allegedly hurt a community. In a turn of events, the acclaimed filmmaker has broken his silence on the controversy and issued a clarification on the Manoj Bajpayee-starrer. He has also revealed that the promotional materials have been pulled down for now. Read on for more details on the controversy of Ghooskhor Pandat.

Why Neeraj Pandey pulled down Ghooskhor Pandat teaser?

Neeraj Pandey and Manoj Bajpayee’s latest collaboration with Netflix for the cop drama film Ghooskhor Pandat has spiraled into a controversy for its title. The filmmaker on February 6 issued a clarification note on his social media to share his views on the title row. This comes a day after a petition was filed against the movie for its derogatory title that associates a particular community with corruption. The legal notice further mentioned that Ghooskhor Pandat might disrupt communal harmony and social order, and hence its release should be put on hold.

Neeraj Pandey took to Instagram to clarify about the title of Ghooskhor Pandat, which aims to be based on a fictional cop drama and not represent any caste or community. He also revealed that the makers have pulled down the promotional materials for now, citing the concern over the feelings of certain individuals, who were hurt by the title.

Also Read: Manoj Bajpayee’s Ghooskhor Pandat lands in legal trouble for its title? Here’s what we know

He shared, "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. 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. We look forward to sharing the film with audiences soon."

Why Ghooskhor Pandat landed in legal trouble?

For the unversed, Ghooskhor Pandat met with severe backlash and criticism over its title that associates the corrupt lead with the Brahmin community. A petition to hold the movie was filed in the Delhi High Court after the announcement. “Ghooskhor Pandat” (referring to Pandit) intends to defame a community by associating it with the corrupt trait of the titular lead. It mentioned that the movie "deliberately associates a well-recognised religious and social designation with corruption and bribery, thereby maligning and lowering the reputation of an entire community in the eyes of the public," stated the plea.

Is Ghooskhor Pandat teaser removed?

In the light of recent events and the title row of Ghooskhor Pandat, the makers have now removed the teaser from YouTube and Netflix handles. Filmmaker Neeraj Pandey shared in his note that they have pulled down the promotional materials for the film.

Meanwhile, Ghooskhor Pandat is among the most-awaited films on Netflix, and it was announced during the streaming giant’s exciting lineup of 2026. The upcoming cop drama features Manoj Bajpayee as a corrupt cop, whose life takes a spin when he gets entangled in a conspiracy after meeting an injured woman. Ritesh Shah serves as the director, and Special Ops fame Neeraj Pandey writes the film. Nushrratt Bharuccha, Saqib Saleem, Akshay Oberoi, and Divya Dutta round out the ensemble.

Ghooskhor Pandit FAQs:

Q. Who plays the lead in Ghooskhor Pandat?

A. Manoj Bajpayee headlines Ghooskhor Pandat as a corrupt cop who embarks on a challenging quest after he gets entangled with an injured woman.

Q. Why is Ghooskhor Pandat teaser not available to watch?

A. Ghooskhor Pandat teaser has been removed from YouTube and Netflix handle after the title row and legal trouble. 

Q. Why is Ghooskhor Pandat facing a backlash?

A. Neeraj Pandey and Manoj Bajpayee's Ghooskhor Pandat faced backlash for its derogatory title that intends to hurt the sentiments of a certain group. Following the announcement of the film, a petition has been filed in Delhi High Court to put a stay on the release of the Netflix film.