Neeraj Pandey's upcoming Netflix movie Ghooskhor Pandat has encountered strong backlash long before its premiere. The filmmaker and the streaming giant have received a notice from a well-known film organisation. The film, which stars Manoj Bajpayee in the lead, also faced criticism on social media. 'Pandat' and 'Ghooskhor' were used together, which means bribe-taker, provoked criticism and added a religious dimension to the dispute.
Neeraj Pandey has released an official statement claiming that all the promotional material will be taken down with immediate effect, amid the strong backlash and criticism. He shared a lengthy note on Instagram, saying the film does not represent any caste, religion, or community.
Neeraj Pandey said, "Our film is a fictional cop drama, and the term 'Pandat' is used simply as a colloquial name for a fictional character. 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."
Neeraj Pandey, who has written Ghooskhor Pandat, added, "This film, like my earlier work, has been created with sincere intent and solely to entertain audiences. We understand that the title of the film has caused hurt to some viewers, and we genuinely acknowledge those feelings. In light of these concerns, we have decided to take down all promotional materials for the time being, as we believe the film should be experienced in its entirety and understood in the context of the story we intended to tell, rather than judged on partial glimpses."
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Neeraj Panday, known for movies like MS Dhoni: The Untold Story and Special 26, concluded by saying that he will share the film with the audience soon.
Manoj Bajpayee plays a rebel police officer, Ajay Dikshit, in the Netflix thriller Ghooskhor Pandat. His character is also referred to as Pandat, who is known for being dishonest and morally bankrupt in the movie. The story of the movie takes place over the course of one night, and Saqib Saleem and Nushrat Bharuccha play important parts. Ritesh Shah is the director, and Neeraj Pandey is the writer of Ghooskhor Pandat.