Indian Supreme Court Orders Title Change for Netflix Film ‘Ghooskhor Pandat’ Amid Community Backlash

New Delhi, February 12, 2026 — India’s Supreme Court has directed the makers of the upcoming Netflix film Ghooskhor Pandat to rename the project, deeming its original title offensive and denigrating to a specific community, particularly the Brahmin community. The court ruled that the film cannot be released without a revised title, effectively staying its release until the new name is submitted and approved.
Hearing the matter on Thursday, a bench led by Justice B.V. Nagarathna reprimanded the filmmakers, stating: “Freedom of expression does not mean you can insult or denigrate any section of society. Society is already divided—do not add to it.” The court sought clarification on whether the film’s content contains anything offensive toward any community.
The controversy erupted after Netflix released the film’s teaser earlier this month, featuring Manoj Bajpayee in the lead. The title Ghooskhor Pandat (roughly translating to “Corrupt Pandit”) drew widespread protests from Brahmin groups and others, who accused it of casteist stereotyping. Demonstrations occurred across India, with effigies burned and an FIR filed in Lucknow on instructions from Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
Producer Neeraj Pandey acknowledged the hurt caused, stating that promotional materials, including the teaser, have been removed from all platforms. He emphasized that the film is a fictional cop drama centered on a corrupt officer’s redemption, not a commentary on any caste, religion, or community.
Co-written by Neeraj Pandey and director Ritesh Shah (in his directorial debut), the film stars Manoj Bajpayee alongside Nushrratt Bharuccha, Saqib Saleem, Akshay Oberoi, and Divya Dutta. It is slated for release on Netflix later in 2026, though no updated title or release date has been announced.
The ruling highlights ongoing tensions in India between artistic freedom, community sensitivities, and legal oversight in media content.