Manoj Bajpayee breaks silence on Neeraj Pandey's ‘Ghooskhor Pandat’ title controversy: 'Not about any community'

After filmmaker Neeraj Pandey, actor Manoj Bajpayee has also responded to the controversy around the title of their upcoming Netflix drama 'Ghooskhor Pandat'. In a statement, Bajpayee said he respects the feelings of those who were hurt by the title. He explained that his role only aims to show the journey of a flawed person and is not meant to comment on any particular community.Taking to Instagram story, he 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. 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." Reflecting on his collaboration with Neeraj, Manoj praised the filmmaker’s dedication to his craft. "In my experience of working with Neeraj Panday, there has been a consistent seriousness and care in how he approaches his films", the actor shared. He added that the team’s move to take down the show’s promotional material in light of public feedback shows how genuinely they value and respect people’s sentiments. The makers of ‘Ghooskhor Pandat’, an upcoming web series, are facing controversy after an FIR was filed against the director and team at the Hazratganj police station in Lucknow. In addition, several organisations have warned of strong demonstrations, claiming that the series title is disrespectful toward the Brahmin community.Earlier, Neeraj had taken to social media to clear the air around the controversy. He explained that the term “Pandat” has been used merely as a casual reference for a fictional character and bears no connection to any caste, religion, or community. The filmmaker also apologised to those who felt hurt by the title.