Manoj Bajpayee has broken his silence on the controversy surrounding his upcoming Netflix India film, Ghooskhor Pandat, after an FIR was filed against the filmmakers for allegedly hurting religious and caste sentiments.

Sharing director Neeraj Pandey’s statement on X (formerly Twitter), the actor wrote, “I respect the emotions and concerns people have shared, and I take them seriously. When something you are part of causes hurt to some people, it makes you pause and listen.”

He continued, “As an actor, I come to a film through the character and the story I am playing. For me, this was about portraying a flawed individual and his journey of self-realisation. This was not meant to be a statement about any community.”

On working with Neeraj, he said, “In my experience of working with Neeraj Pandey, there has been a consistent seriousness and care in how he approaches his films...in light of the public sentiment. This reflects the seriousness with which the concerns are being taken.”

The backlash erupted shortly after the film was announced earlier this week, with FIRs being registered and the National Human Rights Commission issuing a notice to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. 

The NHRC raised concerns that the title promotes negative stereotypes and “vilifies a recognised social group.”

The FIR at Hazratganj Police Station in Lucknow alleges that the title and content “hurt religious and caste sentiments” and threaten public harmony, claiming the title deliberately targets the Brahmin community by linking the term Pandat with corruption.

Notably, the upcoming drama, Ghooskhor Pandat, stars Manoj as Ajay Dikshit, aka Pandat, a corrupt police officer whose plans for a profitable and eventful night are thrown into chaos when he gets caught in a global conspiracy unfolding in Delhi.