Controversy Erupts Over Manoj Bajpayee’s ‘Ghooskhor Pandit’; Angry Netizens Threaten to Ban Film

Even before its release, Manoj Bajpayee’s upcoming film ‘Ghooskhor Pandit’ has sparked widespread controversy. The teaser was recently released, and viewers took offense to the title, claiming it promotes caste-based stereotyping. Netizens have demanded that the makers change the title, warning that the film may face a boycott otherwise.

What Sparked the Controversy?

The backlash centers on the word “Pandit” paired with “Ghooskhor,” which many feel targets a particular community in a derogatory manner. Viewers argue that the title could incite caste-based discrimination and have called for an immediate change.

The film, part of Netflix’s 2026 slate announced on 3 February, features Manoj Bajpayee as a corrupt Delhi police officer. While the story itself highlights the character’s flawed personality and controversial actions, the title alone has triggered outrage on social media.

Public Reactions

On X (formerly Twitter), one user wrote, “Hello Manoj Bajpayee and Netflix India, change the title ‘Ghooskhor Pandit’ immediately. Targeting Brahmins with such stereotypes is unacceptable. Fix this now or prepare for an open boycott.”

Another comment read, “Why only Pandit? Why not Maulana? Why not Father? Warning – change it immediately.” Many others echoed similar sentiments, stating that the title was offensive and inflammatory.

Cast and Crew

Alongside Manoj Bajpayee, the film stars Nushrat Bharucha, Saqib Saleem, Kiku Sharda, Shraddha Das, and Akshay Oberoi. It is directed by Ritesh Shah with a story by Neeraj Pandey. As of now, the release date has not been announced.

A History of Controversial Titles

This is not the first instance of a film facing backlash over its title. Several past films were forced to modify their titles after public protests:

• Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela (originally Ram-Leela)
• Padmavat (originally Padmavati)
• Samrat Prithviraj (originally Prithviraj)
• Hasina Parker (originally Hasina: The Queen of Mumbai)
• Laxmi (originally Laxmi Bomb)
• Judgemental Hai Kya (originally Mental Hai Kya)
• Luv Yatri (originally Loveratri)

In each case, titles were changed following concerns about offending communities or creating controversy.

With Ghooskhor Pandit, the debate over cultural sensitivity and freedom of expression continues to intensify ahead of the film’s release.