Fresh trouble brews for the makers of ‘Ghussor Pandit’ starring Manoj Bajpayee. A complaint has been registered in Jabalpur district court, alleging the film’s title insults the Brahmin community, piling on woes after Supreme Court intervention.
Pandit Vaibhav Pathak, who works as a scriptwriter, actor, and astrologer, filed the case. He claims the provocative title tarnishes the reputation of an entire social group. Respondents include director Neeraj Pandey and Netflix head Reed Hastings.
The court has fixed February 20 for recording statements before the First Class Judicial Magistrate. Legal experts predict intense scrutiny as the case unfolds.
Recall that on February 12, the Supreme Court pulled up the filmmakers, ruling that artistic liberty cannot justify community-targeted slurs. Justices demanded an affidavit from producers affirming no intent to defame and insisted on a title overhaul prior to any release.
In response, promotional content vanished from all digital platforms overnight. Social media clarifications from the team aimed to douse flames, but the damage lingers.
With courts clamping down from multiple fronts, ‘Ghussor Pandit’ teeters on the edge. Producers face a dilemma: rename and revive, or risk permanent postponement amid mounting backlash. This saga underscores the tightrope between creativity and cultural sensitivity in Indian cinema.