Manoj Bajpayee's Ghooskhor Pandat 'should be banned, action should be taken': FWICE President
Manoj Bajpayee's Ghooskhor Pandat landed in significant legal and political trouble shortly after its announcement due to the film's title. The FWICE President stated that the film should be banned.
Manoj Bajpayee in Ghooskhor Pandat
Last Updated: 01.03 PM, Feb 08, 2026
The announcement of Netflix’s upcoming film, Ghooskhor Pandat, starring Manoj Bajpayee and produced by Neeraj Pandey, triggered widespread legal and political backlash almost immediately due to objections to the film's title, which critics say is derogatory to the Brahmin community. Now, the President of the Federation of Western India Cine Employees, BN Tiwari stated the Ghooskhor Pandat should be banned and they will cooperate with the makers.
What did FWICE President say about Ghooskhor Pandat?
Speaking to ANI, BN Tiwari stated that there should be a ban on Ghooskhor Pandat's director, producer, and streaming platform Netflix. He said that he has a serious objection to the use of the word Pandat in this title. No matter whose surname it is, we make films for the entertainment of the people.
"I strongly oppose producers and directors who insult any community. Such people have no right to make films. Those who play with the sentiments of people, whether they are producers, Netflix, or any other platform that streams such films, should be banned, and action should be taken against them," said BN Tiwari.
Speaking on behalf of one of India's largest film workers' unions, Tiwari suggested that FWICE would no longer support films that risked harming the community. He also pointed out that times have changed, and public sentiment matters more than ever.
Neeraj Pandey and Manoj Bajpayee on the controversy
Clarifying that the film is a fictional story about a corrupt police officer whose character is named "Pandat," and they did not intend to target any community, Neeraj Pandey shared on social media that their 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.
He further mentioned that as a filmmaker, he approaches his work with a deep sense of responsibility - to tell stories that are thoughtful and respectful. This film, like his 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," Neeraj shared.
Meanwhile, 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."
He also said that as an actor, he comes to a film through the character and the story he is playing. For him, this was about portraying a flawed individual and his journey of self-realisation and added, "This was not meant to be a statement about any community."
Ghooskhor Pandit FAQs:
Q. Who plays the titular lead in Ghooskhor Pandat?
A. Manoj Bajpayee headlines Ghooskhor Pandat as a corrupt cop who gets entangled with an injured woman and explores a larger conspiracy.
Q. Why was Ghooskhor Pandat's teaser deleted?
A. Ghooskhor Pandat teaser has been removed from YouTube and Netflix handle after the title row and legal trouble faced by the movie.
Q. Will Ghooskhor Pandat be postponed?
A. Neeraj Pandey and Manoj Bajpayee's Ghooskhor Pandat is likely to face a delay in release amid legal and political backlash. Although the makers have yet to share any update on this.