Ghooskhor Pandat controversy: UP CM Yogi Adityanath orders FIR against director Neeraj Pandey; Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak calls it 'highly reprehensible'

The FIR against Neeraj Pandey has been registered at Lucknow’s Hazratganj police station.

• Netflix film Ghooskhor Pandat faces FIR and protests over its title
• UP govt and Centre act against the film, trailer removed from Netflix
• Manoj Bajpayee says the film isn't meant to target any community

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Manoj Bajpayee-starrer upcoming Netflix film titled Ghooskhor Pandat is facing a lot of heat shortly after the streaming giant unveiled its first look two days ago. The film has come under intense scrutiny over its title, prompting swift legal and political reactions.

On Friday, the Uttar Pradesh government, led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ordered the registration of an FIR against the film’s director, Neeraj Pandey, citing concerns over social harmony.

The issue escalated further after the Centre reportedly initiated action against the project, directing Netflix to remove the film’s trailer from its platform amid the growing backlash.

The FIR against Neeraj Pandey has been registered at Lucknow’s Hazratganj police station. The charges include attempting to spread social discord, hurting religious and caste sentiments, and disrupting public peace and law and order.

Reacting strongly to the controversy, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak criticised the film industry over what he described as repeated attacks on Indian culture and the Brahmin community.

"The way people from the film industry are targeting Indian culture, and especially the Brahmin community, is highly reprehensible. Such films should not be released to the public, and he strongly condemns them," he said, adding that such words should not be used for those who have highly contributed to the nation.

The controversy has also drawn the attention of industry bodies. The film reportedly received a notice from a Mumbai-based organisation, Film Makers Combine (FMC), which urged the makers and Netflix to show restraint in the usage of the film’s title. FMC has written to both the production house and the streaming platform, requesting reconsideration.

According to police officials, the legal action followed multiple complaints alleging that the title and content of Ghooskhor Pandat hurt religious and caste sentiments and had the potential to disturb public harmony. Station House Officer of Kotwali Hazratganj, Inspector Vikram Singh, took cognisance of the grievances, leading to formal proceedings.

Police further stated that widespread anger has been observed among members of the Brahmin community and various social organisations. Several groups have reportedly warned of aggressive protests if corrective steps are not taken.

Meanwhile, protests against the film’s name have erupted across the country. In Prayagraj, demonstrators burned effigies of the producer, director, and actors at Subhash Chowk on Friday. During the protest, demands were also raised for a ban on OTT platform Netflix.

The protesters accused the film of being deliberately made to target Hindus and Brahmins, asserting that such portrayals would not be tolerated under any circumstances. They further warned that if the film’s title and content are not changed within three days, protests would intensify in Prayagraj and across the country.

Also read: Manoj Bajpayee finally breaks silence on Ghooskhor Pandat controversy: "Film is about one man’s journey, not a statement about any community"

Amid mounting legal trouble and public outrage, actor Manoj Bajpayee addressed the controversy surrounding his upcoming web series Ghooskhor Pandat. Breaking his silence, Bajpayee shared a statement on his official X handle, expressing respect for the emotions of those who felt hurt.

He emphasised that the series was not intended to target any community and voiced his faith in filmmaker Neeraj Pandey, highlighting the director’s “consistent seriousness and care” in storytelling.