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Anurag Thakur has lauded the government’s directive to scrub promotional content for the controversial film Ghooskhor Pandat from Netflix.
Anurag Thakur applauds the removal of the ‘Ghooskhor Pandat’ teaser.
The heated debate surrounding the Netflix original Ghooskhor Pandat has reached a new crescendo with senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Anurag Thakur lending his voice to the government’s recent intervention. The Centre’s formal directive to Netflix to remove the film’s teaser and all related promotional material has been hailed as a necessary step in preserving social harmony and community dignity.
Taking to his official X account on Friday, Anurag Thakur expressed his strong support for the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting’s decisive action. In a post shared in Hindi, Thakur emphasized that the Modi government would not tolerate content that targets specific religious or social identities for commercial gain.
He stated, “The Bharatiya Janata Party and the Modi government heartily respect all sections of society and are staunch advocates for upholding the dignity and purity of every community. Any attempt to demean any section of society or tarnish its image is utterly unacceptable to us.” Thakur further condemned any act filled with “malice” against the Brahmin community or any other group, adding, “The directive issued by the Central Government to remove the teaser of the controversial Netflix film ‘Ghooskhori Pandit’ and all related content is welcome and commendable.”
The controversy initially ignited when Netflix announced its 2026 slate, featuring a teaser for Ghooskhor Pandat. Critics immediately flagged the title—which translates to “Bribe-taking Brahmin”—as a derogatory stereotype. The backlash quickly moved from social media to the legal system, resulting in an FIR at the Hazratganj police station in Lucknow. Furthermore, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) issued a notice to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting following a formal complaint.
Amidst this pressure, the film’s creators, Neeraj Pandey and Manoj Bajpayee, have attempted to de-escalate the situation. Pandey clarified that the title was merely a colloquial nickname for a fictional police officer. “Our film is a fictional cop drama, and the term ‘Pandat’ is used simply as a colloquial name for a fictional character. The story focuses on an individual’s actions and choices and does not comment on or represent any caste, religion, or community,” he said in a statement.
Beyond the social outcry, the makers are also facing heat from the Film Makers Combine (FMC) for allegedly failing to register the title. The FMC issued a notice to Pandey’s production house, Friday Story Tellers, warning that the use of an unauthorized title could lead to disciplinary action. As the government continues its oversight of OTT content, the future of the Manoj Bajpayee-starrer remains uncertain.
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February 07, 2026, 00:08 IST
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