Manoj Bajpayee Speaks About Family Abuse and Threats Amid Film Title Row

Actor Manoj Bajpayee has spoken publicly about the personal toll of the controversy surrounding his upcoming Netflix film Ghooskhor Pandat, revealing that online abuse and death threats extended beyond him to include his wife and 15-year-old daughter. The actor said he was disappointed that a debate over a film title escalated into attacks on family members who had no connection to the project.

Actor Manoj Bajpayee has opened up about the intense backlash surrounding his upcoming Netflix film Ghooskhor Pandat, saying the controversy crossed a line when online abuse and death threats began targeting his family, including his wife and teenage daughter.

Speaking to NDTV, Bajpayee expressed disappointment that criticism over a film title turned into personal attacks on people who had no involvement in the project.

“They were talking about my 15-year-old daughter. They were talking about my wife,” the actor said while describing the impact the controversy had on his family.

Manoj Bajpayee Clarifies the Film’s Title

Bajpayee said actors are generally not involved in decisions regarding a film’s title and explained that he personally did not see a problem with the name chosen by the filmmakers and streaming platform.

“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 once concerns were raised by a section of the public, the makers decided to address them. He said the production team had already agreed to change the title before appearing in court, allowing the issue to be resolved quickly.

“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,” he said.

Defending the Original Context

Addressing criticism directed at the film, Bajpayee argued that the title referred to a specific fictional character rather than any community.

“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.

The actor said much of the reaction appeared to come before people fully understood the context of the story.

‘How Is It Right to Send Me Death Threats?’

The strongest part of Bajpayee’s response focused on the abuse directed at his family.

“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?” he said.

Questioning the treatment of his loved ones, he added, “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?”

Bajpayee also said it was difficult to distinguish between genuine criticism and coordinated trolling.

“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 was feeling bad for my family members, who have nothing to do with it,” he said.

In a separate interaction, the actor said he felt empathy rather than fear toward those issuing threats, but acknowledged that the experience was painful because of the impact on his family.

From Social Media Backlash to Legal Challenges

The controversy began after the announcement of Ghooskhor Pandat as part of Netflix’s 2026 content slate. Several groups and individuals objected to the title, arguing that it portrayed the Brahmin community negatively.

The backlash soon moved beyond social media. Protests were reported in multiple cities, legal complaints were filed, and an FIR was registered alleging that the title hurt religious sentiments. A petition was also filed before the Delhi High Court seeking intervention over the film’s release.

In response, the filmmakers issued a public apology and informed the court that the project would be released under a different title. The teaser unveiled during Netflix’s Next on Netflix 2026 event was later removed.

Producer and writer Neeraj Pandey stated that the film is a fictional police drama and that the title referred only to a fictional character rather than any caste, religion or community.

About the Film

The project stars Manoj Bajpayee alongside Nushrratt Bharuccha, Saqib Saleem, Akshay Oberoi and Divya Dutta. Written by Neeraj Pandey and Ritesh Shah, the film marks Shah’s directorial debut.

While the original title has been dropped following legal proceedings, the makers have yet to announce the film’s new title or release date.