Manoj Bajpayee's upcoming film, "Ghooskhor Pandat," has ignited a storm of controversy surrounding its title, drawing criticism and sparking legal action. Announced on February 3, 2026, the film, directed by Neeraj Pandey, immediately faced backlash from netizens who found the title offensive and casteist. The uproar has now escalated, with multiple petitions filed in the Delhi High Court seeking a stay on the film's release.
The core of the controversy lies in the use of the word "Pandat" (or Pandit) in conjunction with "Ghooskhor," which translates to "corrupt" or "bribe-taker". Critics argue that the title unfairly associates the Brahmin community with corruption, thereby hurting religious and social sentiments. Social media has been flooded with comments expressing disappointment and outrage, with many demanding a change in title or threatening a boycott of the film.
The film features Manoj Bajpayee as Ajay Dixit, a corrupt police officer infamously known as "Pandat" in Delhi. According to the filmmakers, the story is a one-night thriller where Dixit's plans are disrupted by an unexpected encounter, leading him into a larger conspiracy after he accompanies an injured girl thrown from a moving car to the hospital. The film also stars Nushrratt Bharuccha, Saqib Saleem, Akshay Oberoi, and Divya Dutta.
The legal challenge against "Ghooskhor Pandat" is spearheaded by Advocate Vineet Jindal, who filed a petition in the Delhi High Court seeking a stay on the film's release on Netflix. The petitioner argues that the title and promotional material deliberately associate the term "Pandat" with corruption and bribery, which is communally offensive and defamatory, tarnishing the dignity and reputation of the Brahmin community. The petition asserts that the content violates Articles 14, 21, and 25 of the Constitution of India by targeting a specific religious and social group. It further argues that the right to freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1)(a) is not absolute and does not extend to hate speech, defamation, or content that undermines communal harmony, public order, and constitutional morality. The petitioner has appealed to the Centre to take action against Netflix.
Social media users have voiced their concerns, with some stating that Netflix, which maintains that terrorism has no religion, is implying that corruption has a caste. Others have questioned whether a film with a title like "Ghooskhor Dalit" or "Ghooskhor Muslim" would be acceptable. Some netizens are calling for the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to intervene and demand a change in the title or ban the film.
"Gems of Bollywood," a social media page, claims to have filed a formal complaint against the film, alleging that the title is extremely offensive and casteist and attempts to vilify an entire social group in India.
At the time of this writing, Netflix and the film's makers have not issued an official statement addressing the controversy or confirming any changes to the title. The film's release date remains unannounced.