Netflix has taken a step back amid rising outrage over Ghooskhor Pandat, the upcoming Manoj Bajpayee-starrer, by assuring the Delhi High Court that the film’s title will be changed. The streaming platform informed the court that the producers had taken a “conscious decision” to rename the project after concerns were raised that the original title allegedly hurt the sentiments of the Brahmin community.
Netflix To Change Ghooskhor Pandat Title
The controversy began soon after Ghooskhor Pandat was announced last week at Netflix’s slate launch event in Mumbai. Initially, the project drew attention because of its lead actor Manoj Bajpayee and director Neeraj Pandey. However, the focus quickly shifted as many viewers and community groups objected to the wording of the title, calling it offensive and insensitive. As criticism grew online, FIRs were filed and protests were reported from several parts of the country.
According to IANS, Netflix has told Delhi High Court that all promotional material related to the film has already been taken down from social media. The court was hearing a plea seeking a stay on the film’s release on the OTT platform. After Netflix’s assurance about changing the title, the Delhi High Court disposed of the petition.
The plea was filed by Mahender Chaturvedi, who alleged that the film’s title and its promotional content were defamatory and communally sensitive. He argued that the wording could disturb social harmony and unfairly target a specific community.
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Following the announcement, protests erupted in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Members of Brahmin organisations demanded a ban on the project and accused the makers of targeting their community. In Uttar Pradesh, an FIR was registered, and reports said effigies of the filmmakers and actor Manoj Bajpayee were burnt at several locations.
The issue soon took a political turn as well. Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak strongly criticised the film industry while speaking to the press on Friday. He said the way Indian culture, especially the Brahmin community, was being portrayed was “highly reprehensible”. He added that films using such language should not be released and stressed that words used in a film’s title should not be linked to a community that has contributed significantly to the nation.
Manoj Bajpayee And Makers’ Response To Backlash
Amid the growing backlash, Manoj Bajpayee addressed the issue on social media. He acknowledged that some people were hurt and said he respected their feelings. The actor clarified that the project was never meant to target any community. In a post on his official X handle, Manoj wrote, “When something you are part of causes hurt to some people, it makes you pause and listen.” He also explained that his role focused on portraying a flawed individual and his journey of self-realisation.
Director Neeraj Pandey also issued a clarification, stating that the series is entirely fictional. He stressed that the term used in the title referred only to a fictional character and not to any caste or religious group. The makers said the promotional material was withdrawn voluntarily, even before any official direction was issued.
Meanwhile, BJP claimed that Netflix removed the promotional content following a directive from the Centre after the backlash. However, Netflix told the court that the decision to change the title was proactive and aimed at avoiding any misunderstanding about the project’s intent.
With a new title now promised, Netflix hopes the controversy around Ghooskhor Pandat will settle. Whether the rebranded project will win back public trust remains to be seen.
