iWorld
Manoj Bajpayee’s Ghooskhor Pandat faces FIR after caste backlash, makers remove promos
Mumbai: A teaser meant to build buzz has instead landed Netflix’s upcoming film Ghooskhor Pandat in legal and political trouble. Uttar Pradesh authorities have ordered an FIR against the film’s director and creative team after protests alleging caste insults and a threat to social harmony.
The case was registered at Hazratganj police station after clips from the Manoj Bajpayee-starrer went viral and were flagged for allegedly containing objectionable caste-based and religious remarks. Police said the FIR was filed by Hazratganj SHO Vikram Singh on the direction of chief minister Yogi Adityanath.
The filmmakers have been booked under sections 196 (promoting enmity between groups on grounds of religion, race or caste), 299 (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings) and 352 (apprehension of breach of peace) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with section 66 of the IT Act. Officials said the move aligns with the state’s “zero-tolerance” stance on threats to communal harmony.
The controversy centres on the film’s title and scenes that critics say portray “Pandit” as a bribe-taker. Members of the Brahmin community have staged protests across several places, demanding a ban.
Political voices have amplified the outrage. BSP chief Mayawati called the title disrespectful and urged the Centre to halt the film’s release. In a post on X, she said the depiction was unacceptable and had angered the community. Former Babri Masjid litigant Iqbal Ansari labelled the title “highly objectionable” and sought legal action.
The National Human Rights Commission has also stepped in, issuing a notice to the information and broadcasting ministry on a complaint that the film promotes negative stereotypes and could fuel caste-based hostility.
Facing mounting pressure, the filmmakers moved quickly to contain the fallout. Neeraj Pandey said Ghooskhor Pandat is a fictional cop drama and that “Pandat” is merely a casual character name, not a caste reference. The team has temporarily withdrawn all promotional material.
“We understand that the title has caused hurt to some viewers, and we acknowledge those feelings,” Pandey wrote on Instagram, adding that the story focuses on an individual’s actions, not any community.
Bajpayee also responded, saying he “respects the emotions and concerns people have shared” and views them seriously. He described his role as that of “a flawed individual and his journey of self-realisation” and said it was never meant as commentary on any community. He added that working with Pandey has always reflected seriousness and responsibility, and that pulling down promotions showed the concerns were being taken seriously.
Part of Netflix India’s 2026 slate, the film marks another collaboration between the platform and Pandey after Khakee: The Bihar Chapter. It is directed by Ritesh Shah and Neeraj Pandey and features Nushrratt Bharuccha, Shraddha Das and Kiku Sharda in key roles.
For now, the film’s biggest drama is off-screen — where law, politics and sentiment are colliding faster than any scripted plot.
iWorld
Why Peaky Blinders is one of television’s biggest hits that still deserves more attention
Six seasons, multiple awards and the release of Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man bring the Shelby saga back into the spotlight
In the crowded universe of streaming content, only a handful of shows manage to leave a lasting cultural footprint. Peaky Blinders is overwhelmingly considered one of the biggest global hits of the past decade. Yet many viewers still haven’t fully explored the dark, gripping world of the Shelby family.
Originally produced for the UK’s BBC and later finding a massive global audience through Netflix, the series quietly grew from a British period drama into a worldwide streaming phenomenon.
Created by Steven Knight, the show follows the rise of the Shelby crime family in post-First World War Birmingham. What begins as a gritty street-gang story gradually expands into a sweeping narrative about ambition, politics, power and survival.
At the centre of the saga is Thomas Shelby, portrayed with extraordinary depth by Cillian Murphy. The casting of Murphy is widely regarded as perfect for the role. With piercing eyes, restrained dialogue and an almost hypnotic screen presence, he transforms Shelby into one of the most unforgettable characters in modern screen storytelling.
Murphy’s brilliance lies in his restraint. He rarely shouts or performs theatrically. Instead, a quiet stare, a calculated pause or a subtle shift in expression conveys the emotional storms within the character. Beneath the ruthless gang leader is a war veteran carrying trauma, guilt and loneliness. Murphy captures this complexity with remarkable precision, making Thomas Shelby both terrifying and deeply human.
Beyond its central performance, Peaky Blinders stands out for its unfiltered portrayal of reality. The show does not romanticise crime. Instead, it exposes the harsh social conditions of early 20th-century Britain, from poverty and class struggle to political extremism and the psychological scars left by war.
The series also presents powerful female characters who hold their own within the Shelby empire. Polly Gray, played by Helen McCrory, is the strategic backbone of the family and one of the most formidable figures in the story. Women in the series shape decisions, influence power structures and challenge the rigid social norms of the time.
Across six seasons, the narrative grows dramatically in scale. What begins in the smoky streets of Birmingham evolves into a story involving political conspiracies, fascism and international criminal networks.
The series has also earned significant critical acclaim. It won the BAFTA Television Award for Best Drama Series in 2018 and multiple National Television Awards for Best Drama, cementing its reputation as one of Britain’s most celebrated modern shows.
Another defining feature of the series is its iconic music. The show’s opening theme, Red Right Hand by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, became instantly recognisable and widely associated with the Shelby universe. Combined with a powerful soundtrack featuring artists such as Arctic Monkeys and Radiohead, the music helped shape the show’s dark, stylish identity and became hugely popular among fans.
And the Shelby story is not over yet.
In fact, its legacy is unfolding right now. The long-awaited feature-length continuation, Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, was released on March 6, 2026, bringing the Shelby universe from streaming screens to cinemas and giving fans a new chapter in the saga.
For viewers who have not yet stepped into this world, the timing could not be better.
Six gripping seasons are ready to binge on Netflix. A new film has just arrived in theatres. And at the heart of it all stands one of the most magnetic performances in modern drama by Cillian Murphy.
So if Peaky Blinders has been sitting on your watchlist for years, this weekend is your moment.
So, by order of the Peaky fookin’ Blinders, consider this your cue to finally step into the ruthless world of Thomas Shelby. Pour yourself a drink, clear your schedule and press the play button. Because when the Peaky Blinders give an order, you listen.
