New Delhi- Filmmaker Neeraj Pandey, who has written the upcoming Netflix film Ghooskhor Pandat, issued a statement on February 6, addressing the growing controversy over the project's title. In his response, Pandey clarified that the film is a fictional cop drama and emphasized that the term "Pandat" is used merely as a colloquial name for the lead character, without any intent to target or represent any caste, religion, or community.

Directed by Ritesh Shah, the film stars Manoj Bajpayee, Nushrratt Bharuccha, Saqib Saleem, Akshay Oberoi, Shraddha Das, Divya Dutta, and Kiku Sharda. Bajpayee plays a corrupt police officer entangled in a global conspiracy involving bribery and moral compromise. The makers have not announced the release date yet.

"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," the statement read.

The controversy erupted shortly after the film teaser was unveiled on February 3, during a Netflix event showcasing the platform's 2026 lineup. While the plot centers on individual corruption within law enforcement, the title translating roughly to "Bribe-Taking Pandit" or "Corrupt Pandit" , drew immediate backlash on social media. Users accused it of promoting caste-based stereotyping by associating the term "Pandit," commonly linked to the Brahmin community, with corruption and immorality. Calls for a title change or outright boycott of Netflix trended with many questioning why a similar derogatory prefix was not applied to other professions or communities.

The issue escalated quickly beyond online outrage. On February 4, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), under Member Priyank Kanoongo, took cognizance of a complaint filed by Sanjeev Newar who alleged that the title vilifies the Brahmin community, inflicts psychological harm, promotes hatred, and risks disturbing public order and social harmony. Invoking Section 12 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, the NHRC directed the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to investigate the allegations of caste-based discrimination and stereotyping, and submit an Action Taken Report (ATR) within two weeks.

Political reactions have also surfaced. Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo and Ex Chief Minister Mayawati condemned the title, describing it as a matter of "deep sorrow and concern." She stated that portraying "Pandits" in a derogatory manner and labeling them as wrongdoers not only insults the community but has triggered widespread anger among Brahmins across the country. Mayawati demanded that the Central government immediately ban such caste-based content in films, arguing that it disrespects a respected community and exacerbates social divisions.

Amid the growing rage, the Lucknow Commissionerate issued a statement stating that an FIR has been registered in this regard. “A case has been registered at Hazratganj Police Station against the director and team of the web series 'Ghooskhor Pandat' for attempting to disrupt social harmony and hurt religious/caste sentiments. The strictest possible action will be taken against elements that hurt the sentiments of any community or tamper with peace and order, under a zero-tolerance policy", the statement reads.

Meanwhile, a petition has been filed in the Delhi High Court seeking a stay on the release of the Netflix film. The petitioner claims that the word “Pandat” used in the film’s title and promotions is insulting and defamatory to the Brahmin community.