Netflix Agrees to Rename ‘Ghooskhor Pandat’ After Delhi High Court Petition Over Offensive Title
Court disposes of plea as streaming giant commits to alternative title reflecting film’s true narrative; all promotional materials removed
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday closed proceedings on a petition challenging the Manoj Bajpayee-starrer ‘Ghooskhor Pandat’ after Netflix India assured the court that the film would be renamed.
Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav disposed of the petition after senior counsel representing the streaming platform informed that the producer had voluntarily decided to adopt an alternative title that better reflects the film’s narrative and intent.
The petition was filed by Mahender Chaturvedi, a religious acharya, who contended that the original title was defamatory and communally offensive to the Brahmin community. Chaturvedi alleged that linking the term ‘Pandat’—historically associated with scholarship, ethical conduct, and spiritual guidance—with corruption and bribery amounted to vilification of an entire religious community.
The plea argued that while creative liberty is constitutionally protected, it cannot extend to defamation or content that disturbs communal harmony. It sought a stay on the film’s release and raised concerns about the absence of effective regulatory mechanisms for OTT platforms.
During the hearing, Netflix’s legal team confirmed that all promotional content bearing the controversial title had already been removed from social media platforms. The court recorded that the fictional police drama, currently in its editing stage, had faced unintended interruptions that did not align with its actual content.
The decision brings relief to producer Neeraj Pandey and the film’s team, who had faced multiple FIRs and criticism from the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) over the title.
With the petitioner’s grievance now addressed through the title change, the court saw no further need for adjudication and concluded the matter.
