Manoj Bajpayee Finally Reacts To Controversy Surrounding His Netflix Film 'Ghooskhor Pandat'
Manoj Bajpayee broke his silence on the raging controversy surrounding his upcoming Netflix film titled 'Ghooskhor Pandat'.
Indian actor Manoj Bajpayee has finally addressed the elephant in the room as he broke his silence on the raging controversy surrounding his upcoming Netflix film titled 'Ghooskhor Pandat'. The project was announced earlier this week during Netflix India's 2026 slate of films and shows. However, as soon as the short clip went online, the makers were lambasted by certain fans on social media, who were offended by the title, claiming it hurt their sentiments.
Multiple FIRs have been filed against Netflix India and the film's makers. On Friday morning, the announcement video was pulled down from YouTube and several other social media platforms. Neeraj Pandey, who has bankrolled the project, shared a statement apologising for hurting people's sentiments.
Manoj Bajpayee shared the same statement on X, and 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 clarified that the intention wasn’t to hurt any community, “As an actor, I come to a film through the character and the story I am playing. For me, this was about portraying a flawed individual and his journey of self-realisation. This was not meant to be a statement about any community," he added.
“In my experience of working with Neeraj Pandey, there has been a consistent seriousness and care in how he approaches his films," he further said.
The 'Family Man' actor also said that the project's promotional material has been taken down, which shows how seriously the matter is being taken.
"The filmmakers have decided to take down the promotional material for the time being, in light of the public sentiment. This reflects the seriousness with which the concerns are being taken," he said.
Check out the post here:
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.
— manoj bajpayee (@BajpayeeManoj) February 6, 2026
As an actor, I come to a film through the character and the story I am playing. For me, this was about… https://t.co/IGlQtLQeNs
Earlier, Neeraj Pandey set the record straight, saying the movie is purely fictional and it has nothing to do with any caste or community. “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,” he wrote, adding, “We understand that the title of the film has caused hurt to some viewers, and we genuinely acknowledge those feelings," he said.
For the unversed, the National Human Rights Commission had earlier issued a notice to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting regarding the title of the film, which it found promoted ‘negative stereotypes'. A writ petition was also filed before the Delhi High Court by Mahender Chaturvedi through Advocate Vineet Jindal seeking a stay on the release of 'Ghooskhor Pandat'.
Featuring Manoj Bajpayee in the title role, 'Ghooskhor Pandat' follows Ajay Dikshit, also known as Pandat, a corrupt police officer whose plans are disrupted when he finds himself caught in the middle of a global conspiracy unfolding in the heart of Delhi.
