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Centre Directs Netflix To Take Down Manoj Bajpayee’s Ghooskhor Pandat Teaser

Arfa Javaid February 06, 2026 09:11 PM

The central government has directed Netflix to remove the 'Ghooskhor Pandat' film teaser and other promotional content, reported news agency PTI. This comes after UP CM Yogi Adityanath directed the state police to register an FIR against the makers of the film for targeting a particular community and hurting “religious and caste sentiments”. A writ petition was also moved before the Delhi High Court seeking a stay on the release of the film.

‘Taking Down All Promotions,’ Says Neeraj Pandey

Following the growing backlash, director Neeraj Pandey issued a statement on Instagram that the team of the Netflix film starring Manoj Bajpayee has decided to take down all promotional materials since it has hurt some viewers. “Our film is a fictional cop drama, and the term ‘Pandat’ is used simply as a colloquial name for a fictional character,” he explained, before adding, “We understand that the title of the film has caused hurt to some viewers, and we genuinely acknowledge those feelings.”

He further said, “In light of these concerns, we have decided to take down all promotional materials for the time being. 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 based on partial glimpses,” he explained.

Manoj Bajpayee Defends The Film

Quoting his statement, actor Manoj Bajpayee, who is playing the cop named Pandat, also issued a statement saying that his intention was not to hurt any particular community but to play a character of a flawed individual and his journey of self-realisation. “I respect the emotions and concerns people have shared, and I take them seriously. When something you are part of causes hurt to some people, it makes you pause and listen,” Manoj Bajpayee wrote in a statement on X (formerly Twitter).

He added, “As an actor, I come to a film through the character and the story I am playing. For me, this was about portraying a flawed individual and his journey of self-realisation. This was not meant to be a statement about any community.”

Bajpayee further said that Neeraj Pandey has consistently shown seriousness and care in how he approaches his films.

“The filmmakers have decided to take down the promotional material in light of the public sentiment. This reflects the seriousness with which the concerns are being taken,” he went on to say.