Actor Manoj Bajpayee has spoken about the personal impact of the controversy surrounding the Netflix film Ghooskhor Pandat, revealing that the backlash extended far beyond criticism of the project's title and resulted in online abuse, including death threats directed at him and his family. The film was announced as part of Netflix's 2026 content slate. Written by Neeraj Pandey and directed by Ritesh Shah, the project quickly became the subject of controversy after several groups and individuals objected to its title, alleging that it portrayed the Brahmin community in a negative light.
Speaking to NDTV, Manoj addressed the issue and clarified that neither he nor the makers intended to hurt anyone's sentiments. "When a film is being named, actors are not usually made part of that process. But if the OTT platform and my director decided to go with a certain title, I personally did not see any problem with it," he said.
The actor added that the team chose to respond to concerns once objections began surfacing online. "But there was a section that expressed its reservations through social media. For those people, we decided to change the title. When we went to court, we were ready to change the title. In one hearing, everything was taken care of," Manoj said.
The controversy eventually led to legal complaints in multiple states and prompted the makers to withdraw the original title. According to Manoj, much of the criticism overlooked the actual context of the film and the character at its centre. "When we are talking about Pandit or Ghooskhor, we are not talking about all people. We are talking about this character. In this film, what is this character called? He is not a Pandit. He is Pandat. He is very popular by that nickname, which the police department has given him. He is a Delhi Police officer," he explained.
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However, the actor said the most troubling aspect of the controversy was the personal abuse directed at his loved ones. "But tell me, how is it right to send me death threats? How is it right to drag my family into the whole picture and use all kinds of obscene language? What is my family's fault? My family has female members whom you are talking about. How far do you think it is right to demean a woman who has no responsibility in naming the film? How far is it right that you are sending death threats to me, who is part of it as an actor? Death threats? For the name? I mean, just for the name," he said.
Manoj further revealed that the trolling affected his wife and teenage daughter, making the situation particularly painful. "There are bots and trolls everywhere, and it is very difficult to know whom to take seriously and whom not to. So, I was disappointed. I really don't know. I was feeling bad for my family members, who have nothing to do with it. They were talking about my 15-year-old daughter. They were talking about my wife," he shared.
Despite the experience, the actor said he remains open to constructive criticism and believes disagreements can be expressed respectfully. "For me, I don't let these people affect me. I felt it was pathetic coming from the same people who respected me for everything I have done. If you criticise me more nicely and gently, I will bow my head and change that about myself. And we have done it," Manoj concluded.
The film's title has since been dropped following legal proceedings, bringing the controversy to a close.
More Pages: Ghooskhor Pandat Box Office Collection
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