Mumbai: Upcoming Netflix series ‘Ghooskhor Pandat’, starring Manoj Bajpayee in the lead and directed by Neeraj Pandey, has triggered protests across the country over its title.
On Friday, people under the banner of Rashtriya Parshuram Sena burnt effigies of Manoj and Neeraj.
The protesters threatened to blacken the faces of the actor and director, as they demanded a ban on the film and the OTT giant.
The filmmakers have been accused of hurting sentiments of the Brahmin community by associating the word ‘ghooskhor’ (corrupt) with Pandat (a term used for Brahmins or Hindu priests).
In Indore, the Brahmin community staged a protest against the film, burning effigies of Netflix and the lead actor.
“We oppose the film; it should be banned, otherwise Manoj Bajpayee and Neeraj Pandey will have their faces blackened. We demand that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Censor Board ban this film,” a protestor was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.
‘Ghooskhor Pandat’ stars Manoj as a corrupt cop nicknamed Pandat.
Amid backlash, the director on Friday issued a statement to clarify that the film is not against any community. He added that all promotional material, including the first-look teaser, was being taken down from Netflix.
The ruling BJP claimed that the first-look teaser was taken down following the Centre’s directive.
An FIR was lodged in Lucknow against the makers for hurting religious and caste sentiments.
