This film starring Manoj Bajpayee has been in discussion since the makers presented its first look at Netflix’s ‘Next on Netflix 2026’ event. However, the film’s name got surrounded by controversies even before its release. The reason for the controversy is the association of the word ‘Pandit’ (which means priest or religious scholar) in the title with a negative context like ‘Ghooskhor’ (bribe-taker), to which many communities have objected.
A petition was filed in the Delhi High Court on Thursday demanding a stay on the film’s release. Along with this, the matter became even more serious when the FMC issued a notice to the makers and the streaming platform Netflix regarding the alleged unauthorized use of the title.
Apart from this, an FIR has also been registered against the film’s producers in Lucknow. The complaint alleges that the film’s title and content hurt religious and caste sentiments, which could pose a risk of disturbing social harmony. Seeing the situation, while the makers gave a clarification on their part, the film’s lead actor Manoj Bajpayee also had to come forward and present his side.
Manoj Bajpayee Clarifies
Manoj Bajpayee presented his views while sharing a long statement via Instagram Story. The actor said that he respects the sentiments and concerns expressed by people and takes them seriously. He wrote that when some people get hurt by any work, it becomes necessary to stop, listen, and understand.
Manoj Bajpayee further said that as an actor, he connects with any film through his character and its story. For him, this film is the story of a person who is vulnerable and in search of his self-identity. He clarified that the purpose was not to make any comment regarding any community.
Sharing his experience of working with Neeraj Pandey, Manoj Bajpayee said that he has always seen that Neeraj Pandey works on his films with utmost seriousness and sensitivity. Keeping people’s sentiments in mind, the film’s producers have also decided to remove promotional material.
Neeraj Pandey Also Clarified
Earlier, Neeraj Pandey had also clarified his position by sharing a long note on Instagram. He said that his intention was not to hurt the sentiments of any specific caste. In his post, Neeraj Pandey wrote that his film is a fictional cop drama and the word “Pandit” has been used in it only as a colloquial name for a fictional character.
He further explained that the film’s story is entirely focused on an individual’s actions and decisions, and its purpose is not to depict or comment on any caste, religion, or community. As a filmmaker, he also said that he always works with full responsibility so that stories can be presented thoughtfully and respectfully.
