Here is the breakdown of the actor's response and the team's damage control strategy.
Manoj Bajpayee's Stand: "Not a Statement on Any Community" 🗣️ Taking to social media today (Friday, Feb 6), Manoj Bajpayee shared a thoughtful note responding to the criticism.
The Apology/Clarification: He emphasized that he respects public sentiment and takes the concerns seriously.
"When something you are part of causes hurt to some people, it makes you pause and listen... This was about portraying a flawed individual... not meant to be a statement about any community."
Defending the Director: He vouched for his long-time collaborator Neeraj Pandey (whom he worked with on Special 26 and Aiyaary), stating there is always "seriousness and care" in his approach.
The "Damage Control": Teaser Removed! 🚫
In a rare move, the makers have decided to scrub the internet of the film's promotional material.
Official Action: Neeraj Pandey announced that they are taking down the teaser and all promotional materials "for the time being."
The Reason: The team stated they want the film to be "experienced in its entirety" rather than judged on a 2-minute glimpse that caused offense.
Current Status: If you look for the Ghooskhor Pandat teaser on Netflix India's YouTube or Instagram today, you won't find it.
The Legal Trouble: FIR in Lucknow ⚖️
The "pause" wasn't just due to tweets; real legal pressure was mounting.
The FIR: An FIR was registered at the Hazratganj Police Station in Lucknow against the director and the team for allegedly hurting religious and caste sentiments.
The Complaint: The complainants argued that associating the word "Pandat" (a colloquial term for Pandit) with "Ghooskhor" (corrupt/bribe-taker) was defamatory and targeted a specific caste.
SantaBanta Verdict: The "Pause and Listen" approach is a smart move. By removing the teaser, the makers have bought themselves time to cool the temperature. Whether they will eventually change the title (perhaps to just "The Cop" or "Pandat" without the negative prefix) remains to be seen, but for now, 'Ghooskhor Pandat' has gone underground.
