Renowned filmmaker Neeraj Pandey has officially withdrawn the title of his upcoming Netflix film, originally named Ghooskhor Pandat, following a wave of public backlash and legal scrutiny. In an affidavit submitted to the Supreme Court on Thursday, February 19, 2026, the director clarified that the project never intended to demean any religion, caste, or community.
The Source of the Controversy
The controversy erupted shortly after Netflix released a teaser for the film, which stars Manoj Bajpayee as a corrupt police officer. Critics and social media users quickly took aim at the title, arguing that pairing the word “Ghooskhor” (bribe-taker) with “Pandat” (a colloquial term for the Brahmin community) promoted harmful stereotypes and linked a specific community to corruption.
Legal challenges soon followed, including an FIR in Lucknow and a petition in the Delhi High Court. The matter eventually reached the Supreme Court, where a bench comprising Justices B.V. Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan expressed concern that the title could be perceived as denigrating a section of society.
“No Malicious Intent,” Says Pandey
In his formal response to the court, Neeraj Pandey emphasized that the film is a fictional cop drama and that “Pandat” was merely used as a colloquial nickname for the lead character, Ajay Dikshit.
“I state categorically and unequivocally that neither I nor my production house had any deliberate or malicious intention of outraging the religious feelings of any class of citizens of India,” Pandey stated in his affidavit.
The filmmaker further assured the bench that:
Total Withdrawal: The title Ghooskhor Pandat has been “unequivocally withdrawn” and will not be used in any future branding or distribution. Media Removal: All promotional materials, including the teaser, posters, and digital ads, have already been scrubbed from the internet.
New Identity: A new title is currently being finalized. Pandey promised it would not be “similar to or evocative of” the original and would more accurately reflect the film’s narrative without causing offense.
Supreme Court Closes the Case
Satisfied with the filmmaker’s proactive steps and the written undertaking, the Supreme Court disposed of the plea against the movie. The bench noted that while freedom of expression is a fundamental right, it should not be used to disparage any community.
With the legal hurdles cleared, the production team is now focusing on the rebranding process. While the new title remains under wraps, the film—which follows a “bad cop’s” journey toward redemption—is still expected to premiere on Netflix later this year. To know such latest updates tuned tellyboosters.com Thank you!
